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Northern Pintail

Anas acutaOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
Northern Pintail Male Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Spatulate
  • Eye color: Brown iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown color: Tan
  • Forehead color: Brown
  • Nape Color: Brown
  • Throat color: White, Brown
  • Cere color:
Splitbar
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Northern Pintail Male Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 53-73 cm (21-29 in)
  • Weight: 1042 g (36.8 oz)
  • Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
  • Color: White, Brown, Black, Gray
  • Underparts: White
  • Upperparts: Gray-brown
  • Back Pattern: Barred or banded, Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Spotted or speckled, Striped or streaked, Mottled
Northern Pintail Male Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Direct flight with rapid wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 73-88 cm (29-35 in)
  • Wing Shape: Long-Wings, Tapered-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Forked Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg color: Gray
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Copyright © 2005 WBFI Research Foundation Bird database and its related content and media is Copyright (C) 2002 - 2005 Mitch Waite Group All rights reserved.

Family Surface-feeding Duck (Anatidae)_blue
Species Anas acuta
Length21 - 29 Inches
Wingspan32 Inches

Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail: Large, dabbling duck. Gray and black upperparts, white neck, underparts, gray sides. Head, throat, and nape are brown; a white stripe divides front and back of neck. Gray wings have green speculum bordered with brown above and white below. Tail is black, long, and pointed.

● Song: "geee", "pruh", "prripp"

● Foraging & Feeding: Northern Pintail: Feeds primarily on vegetation, algae, seeds, and insects; forages in shallow water by dabbling.

● Breeding & nesting: Northern Pintail: Three to twelve olive green, olive buff, or cream eggs are laid in a shallow ground nest made of grass and lined with down, often some distance from water. Incubation ranges from 22 to 25 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Northern Pintail: Long-tailed Duck has white face patch.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Northern Pintail Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Northern Pintail: Breeds from Alaska and Labrador south to California, Nebraska, and Maine. Spends winters south to Central America and the West Indies; also in Eurasia. Preferred habitats include marshes, prairie ponds, tundra, and sometimes salt marshes.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationWidespread, Abundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight36.8 Ounces