Northern Pintail Identification

Male

A long-necked duck. Breeding males have a very long tail, a white breast, and a white neck stripe.

Female

Females are slender ducks with a long tail and neck. Females have rather plain tan heads compared to other female ducks.

Breeding male

An elegant, long-necked duck with a slender profile. Breeding male has a gleaming white breast, grayish sides, and a thin white line extending up a chocolate brown head.

Male

A slender duck with a long neck and tail. In flight, breeding males have a green speculum.

Female/immature

Females are slender with a plain tan face. In flight, the speculum is brownish bronze.

Breeding male

Tips up and submerges head underwater to eat aquatic seeds and insects, filtering out the water with its bill.

Eclipse male

Slender duck with a long tail and neck. Nonbreeding males in eclipse plumage are pale overall with a plain face.

Male (with Mallard)

Slimmer than a Mallard with a long tail.

Breeding male and female

Courting males stretch their necks up, bob their heads, and tip their bill down while giving a whistle call to attract a female. Interested females follow with head bobbing, preening, and clucking.

Male

Breeding males have very long black tails and a white stripe up the side of their neck.

Female

Slender duck with a long neck and tail. Shape helps separate from other ducks.

Breeding male

Flies on long and slender wings and almost hovers before gently landing on the ground.

Male and female

Male and female

Uses shallow wetlands and flooded fields during the winter.