Anas acuta
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Mass
~950 g
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Aquatic plants
How to recognize it
The Northern Pintail looks sleek and light, with a long neck and, in the male, a very noticeable pointed tail. Even at a distance, it gives a slimmer, more elegant impression than many familiar ducks.
It flies fast, swims well, and almost never dives, even when alarmed. It feeds by tipping forward in shallow water, and its voice is easy to remember: the male gives a soft whistle, while the female has a rough, ducklike quack.
It favors open wetlands, meadowy lowlands, tundra lakes, and other places with shallow water and low shoreline plants. It is migratory, and its diet shifts with the season, from mostly plant food to more animal prey in spring.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The Northern Pintail looks sleek and light, with a long neck and, in the male, a very noticeable pointed tail. Even at a distance, it gives a slimmer, more elegant impression than many familiar ducks.
It flies fast, swims well, and almost never dives, even when alarmed. It feeds by tipping forward in shallow water, and its voice is easy to remember: the male gives a soft whistle, while the female has a rough, ducklike quack.
It favors open wetlands, meadowy lowlands, tundra lakes, and other places with shallow water and low shoreline plants. It is migratory, and its diet shifts with the season, from mostly plant food to more animal prey in spring.
