The pintail or northern pintail is a duck species with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding range as far as the equator. Unusually for a bird with such a large range, it has no geographical subspecies, although the possibly conspecific duck Eaton's pintail is considered to be a separate species.
Region
Holarctic
Typical Environment
Breeds across northern North America, Europe, and Asia in open wetlands, tundra edges, and prairie potholes. Winters well south of its breeding range across temperate zones, the Mediterranean, sub-Saharan Africa, South and East Asia, and Central America. Prefers shallow, open water with nearby short vegetation and readily uses flooded fields, estuaries, and marshes. It often avoids densely vegetated wetlands and forests, favoring expansive, unobstructed habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The northern pintail is a sleek dabbling duck named for the male’s long, pointed central tail feathers. Drakes in breeding plumage show a chocolate-brown head and a crisp white neck stripe, while females are subtly mottled for camouflage. It undertakes long migrations between high-latitude breeding grounds and temperate to tropical wintering areas. Despite its vast range, it has no recognized subspecies; the similar Eaton’s pintail is treated as a separate species.
Non-breeding males wintering in India
Breeding pair
Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Up-ending to feed (male on right)
Male preening
Temperament
wary and alert
Flight Pattern
strong flier with rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Outside the breeding season it forms flocks, often mixed with other dabbling ducks. Pairs form in late winter to early spring, and nesting occurs on the ground in shallow scrapes lined with vegetation, sometimes far from open water. Females incubate and rear the brood, while males typically depart during incubation to molt.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
The male gives a short, clear, whistled peeeep and soft trills, especially in display. The female produces soft, descending quacks and grunts, less carrying than those of a mallard. Vocalizations are most frequent during courtship and flock interactions.
Plumage
Male in breeding plumage has a chocolate-brown head, white neck stripe extending up the side of the neck, sleek gray body, and very long pointed central tail feathers; females are mottled buff-brown with a more modest tail. Both sexes have a slim silhouette, grayish bill, and an iridescent greenish speculum edged in black and white.
Diet
A typical dabbling feeder, it takes seeds and leaves of aquatic plants, grasses, and agricultural grains such as rice and wheat. It also consumes aquatic invertebrates—especially insects, snails, and crustaceans—more heavily during the breeding season. In shallow water it upends to reach submerged vegetation and will graze or glean in fields and shorelines. Opportunistic foraging allows it to exploit flooded fields and estuaries after storms or seasonal inundation.
Preferred Environment
Shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands, marshes, flooded grasslands, and estuarine mudflats. It often forages in agricultural landscapes, including stubble fields and rice paddies adjacent to roosting wetlands. Open vistas with low vegetation are favored.
