Wildlifeof Nepal
Northern Pintail
Ducks, Geese & Grebes
Photo: (c) Matt Felperin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Anas acuta
Basic stats
Diet
Plant food by dabbling; small invertebrates in the nesting season
Habitat
Open wetlands; nests on the ground, often some way from water
Range
Breeds across northern Europe, the Palearctic and North America; winters south to the equator
Size
Males 59–76cm; females 51–64cm
Wingspan
80–95cm
Weight
Males 450–1,360g; females 454–1,135g
The northern pintail is a large duck with a very wide range, breeding in northern Europe, across the Palearctic and in North America and wintering as far south as the equator. The male's long central tail feathers give the species its name. The drake has a chocolate-brown head with a thin white stripe running down the neck to white underparts, and hens are drab brown. Both sexes have blue-grey bills (Wikipedia, general species account).
It nests on the ground, often some way from water, and dabbles for plant food, adding small invertebrates in the nesting season. Males are 59 to 76cm long, considerably larger than the 51 to 64cm females. Outside the breeding season it is highly gregarious and forms large mixed flocks with other ducks.
Quick answers
- What does the Northern Pintail eat?
- Plant food by dabbling; small invertebrates in the nesting season
- What habitat does the Northern Pintail live in?
- Open wetlands; nests on the ground, often some way from water
- Where is the Northern Pintail found?
- Breeds across northern Europe, the Palearctic and North America; winters south to the equator
- How big is the Northern Pintail?
- Males 59–76cm; females 51–64cm
- What is the wingspan of the Northern Pintail?
- 80–95cm
- How much does the Northern Pintail weigh?
- Males 450–1,360g; females 454–1,135g