Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Northern Pintail
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Anas acuta
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Voice
Call
Jens Loose
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
Song
Sonothèque ADVL
How to recognize it
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Mallard-sized, but slimmer and more elongated
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Drake: chocolate-brown head, white neck stripe, grey sides
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Very long pointed tail on the male
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Flute-like whistle; female gives a soft quack
About the species
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.
Where to find
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Along shallow pond edges, canal banks, and quiet backwaters — especially by reeds in the early morning, when Northern Pintail tip forward to feed on seeds and tiny water creatures.
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On open riverside lawns and floodplain meadows — where the grass is short, they often move in alert little flocks and feed close to the water.
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At reed-fringed river mouths and larger wetland margins — listen for the male’s soft whistle from the water.
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On flooded fields and rain pools in autumn — look for groups dabbling in very shallow water and stepping out onto the mud.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Anas acuta Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Northern pintail Encyclopedia article