Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

Genus · Mallards, Pintails, and Allies Family · Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Observation tips Difficulty: EASY
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Lake wetlandsMarine

Best seen in winter on large wetlands or coastal waters. The male's white neck-stripe is visible even from a long distance.

Northern Pintail

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan80–95 cm
Weight450–1350 g
Length51–76 cm
Lifespan wild3–10 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeScrape
Clutch size7–9 eggs
Incubation22–24 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationMigratory
Social BehaviourFlocking

Diet: Omnivore

🦀Crustaceans
🦗Insects
🐚Mollusks
🍃Plants
🌻Seeds

Habitat

🛶 Lake wetlands🌊 Marine🏞️ River
✦ Fun Fact

This species is one of the fastest ducks in the world, capable of reaching speeds of 100 km/h. This speed enables them to perform extraordinary long-distance migrations, covering thousands of kilometres between their Arctic breeding grounds and wintering sites.

About

An elegant, slender duck with a long neck and a 'pin-like' tail. It breeds in northern wetlands and spends winters on coastal waters and flooded grasslands. Its streamlined shape makes it remarkably agile and fast in the air.

Behaviour

Pintails are wary and shy. They are often the first ducks to fly away when disturbed. They feed by tipping forward in shallow water to reach seeds on the bottom. Their long necks allow them to reach deeper food than other ducks. In winter, they are social and often stay with Wigeons and Teals.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

Features a chocolate-brown head with a white stripe running up the neck. The body is grey, and the tail has two very long central feathers.

♀ Female

Mainly mottled light brown with a slender neck. The tail is more pointed than other female duck species. The bill is grey and the head is plain.

Similar species

Mallard
🐦
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
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