Northern Pintail
Anas acuta · Ducks, Swans, and Geese
The Northern Pintail is an elegant, slender duck found across North America, Europe, and Asia. Known for its long neck and distinctive tail, it is a widespread species, though its populations have seen declines. These dabbling ducks are often observed in shallow waters, where they gracefully forage.
Explore the full field guideMigratoryMedium-sizedWhistling, QuackingOmnivore
1 call·first heard Jul 4·last 99d ago
When it's heardpeak 4a · fall
5a12p9p
How to know it
- Elegant with a chocolate-brown head, a thin white stripe extending up the neck, a gleaming white breast, and gray sides. Long, pointed black central tail feathers are prominent.
- Mottled buff-brown overall with a tan head and neck, a whitish chin, and a black bill. Possesses a relatively long neck and a pointed, wedge-shaped tail, though shorter than the male's.
- Resembles the female, with mottled brown and white plumage, a dark bill, and a pale, unmarked face. They are flightless during this molt.
- Both sexes display long, narrow wings. Males show a green speculum (inner wing feathers), while females have a bronzy speculum.