Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Visual Identification
Appearance
The Northern Pintail is a sleek, elegant duck with a distinctive long, pointed tail. Males in breeding plumage have a chocolate-brown head, white neck, and grey body with intricate black and white patterns. Their namesake pintail is long and needle-like.
Non-breeding drakes in eclipse plumage are relatively dull, with a gray-brown body and a paler breast. Their tail is still pointed, although much shorter, and they have gray bills and legs.
Females are more subdued, with mottled brown plumage and a shorter tail. Both sexes have blue-grey bills and legs and a speculum of iridescent green bordered by white and rust.
Juveniles appear similar to adult females but have darker crowns and less mottling on the flanks and upper parts.
Size
Length
59cm to 76cm
Wingspan
80cm to 95cm
Weight
450g to 1.36kg
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Northern Pintails inhabit a wide range of shallow wetlands, including marshes, prairie potholes, and coastal estuaries. They breed across northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.
During winter, they migrate to southern regions, including the southern United States, Mexico, and parts of Europe and Asia. They are common in wetland areas throughout the UK and Ireland during non-breeding seasons.
Birdwatchers might spot Pintails from the rare and localized breeding populations in East Anglia and western Scotland in the spring and summer.
Elevation Range
Up to 4,000 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subarctic, Arctic
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Northern Pintail. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!
Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The Northern Pintail is renowned for its swift and agile flight, capable of reaching speeds up to 65 mph (105 km/h). Their graceful movements in the air and ability to manoeuvre quickly make them one of the more agile duck species.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Whilst not particularly strong compared to larger waterfowl, Northern Pintails possess moderate strength. Their ability to dive up to 30 feet deep to escape predators, despite being dabbling ducks, indicates a decent level of physical prowess.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Northern Pintails demonstrate good adaptability, inhabiting a wide range of shallow wetlands across various climates. Their omnivorous diet and ability to breed in diverse habitats, from prairie potholes to coastal estuaries, showcase their adaptable nature.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Generally, Northern Pintails are not known for being particularly aggressive. Their courtship behaviour involves elaborate displays rather than aggressive competition, and they're not typically territorial. However, like most animals, they may display some aggression when defending nests or young.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
As long-distance migrants capable of traversing continents, Northern Pintails exhibit impressive endurance. Their ability to undertake extensive seasonal journeys, coupled with their long lifespan of up to 27 years in the wild, indicates high endurance levels for a medium-sized duck.
Diet
Northern Pintails are omnivorous, primarily feeding on plant matter such as seeds, aquatic vegetation, and grains. They also consume small invertebrates, including insects, mollusks, and crustaceans. Their long necks allow them to forage in deeper water than many other dabbling ducks.
Pintails often visit arable farmland at night to feed on rice, corn, and wheat. They can also use their bill to dig out potatoes and other underground plant material.
Behaviour
Northern Pintails are known for their graceful flight, with swift, agile movements and distinctive silhouettes. They often feed by 'upending' in shallow water, tipping forward to reach submerged vegetation.
During courtship, males perform elaborate head-pumping displays and whistling calls to attract females.
Vocalisation
Northern Pintails are relatively quiet ducks. Males produce a soft, flute-like whistle, often described as a 'proop-proop' sound during courtship, reminiscent of a steam train.
Females have a low, raspy quack, less frequent and quieter than that of a Mallard. In flight, pintails make a distinctive wheezing whistle with their wings.
Nesting & Breeding
Northern Pintails form pairs during winter and migrate to breeding grounds together. The breeding season typically begins in late April to early May.
Females construct nests on the ground, often some distance from water, concealed in tall grass or low vegetation. The nest is a shallow depression lined with grass and down. Clutch size ranges from 7 to 9 eggs, which are pale grayish, greenish or olive-buff in color.
Incubation lasts about 22-24 days, performed solely by the female. Ducklings are precocial and leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching, able to feed themselves under the female's supervision. They tend to stay with their mother for four to six weeks.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While currently listed as Least Concern, Northern Pintail populations have declined in North America due to habitat loss and degradation.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring wetland habitats, particularly in breeding areas and along migration routes.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for pintails in shallow wetlands and coastal areas
- Observe their unique, elongated silhouette in flight
- Listen for the male's soft whistle during the breeding season
- In North America, watch for large flocks during spring and fall migrations
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Predators
Main predators include foxes, raccoons, large birds of prey such as hawks and eagles, and in some areas, alligators. Eggs and ducklings are vulnerable to a wider range of predators.
Did You Know?
- Northern Pintails can fly at speeds up to 65 mph (105 km/h), making them one of the fastest ducks.
- They have been known to hybridize with over a dozen other duck species in the wild.
- Pintails can dive up to 30 feet deep to escape predators, despite being classified as dabbling ducks.
FAQs
What is the difference between a Gadwall hen and a Pintail hen?
At first impression, female Gadwalls and Pintails appear very similar. However, there are three identifying features that birdwatchers can look for to separate these wildfowl.
The Pintail hen has a blackish bill and a longer neck than the Gadwall hen. Female Gadwalls differ by having orange bills and white wing patches.
References
- 1
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Anas acuta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22680301A153882797.
View source - 2 3
report, 2006: Wetlands International
- 4
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source
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