About Anas acuta Linnaeus, 1758
The northern pintail, scientific name Anas acuta Linnaeus, 1758, is a fairly large duck. Its wing chord measures 23.6–28.2 cm (9.3–11.1 in), and its total wingspan ranges from 80–95 cm (31–37 in). Males are 59–76 cm (23–30 in) long and weigh 450–1,360 g (0.99–3.00 lb), making them considerably larger than females. Females measure 51–64 cm (20–25 in) in length and weigh 454–1,135 g (1.001–2.502 lb). This species broadly overlaps in size with the similarly widespread mallard, but has a more slender, elongated and gracile build, with a relatively longer neck, and a longer tail on males. Breeding-plumaged males are unmistakable, with a chocolate-brown head, white breast, and a white stripe that extends up the side of the neck. Their upperparts and sides are grey, and elongated grey feathers with black central stripes drape across the back from the shoulder area. The vent area is yellow, which contrasts with the black underside of the tail; the tail's central feathers are elongated to as much as 10 cm (3.9 in). Males have bluish bills and blue-grey legs. Adult females are mainly scalloped and mottled light brown, with a more uniform grey-brown head. Their pointed tail is shorter than the male's, but they are still easily identified by their overall shape, long neck, and long grey bill. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, male pintails look similar to females, but retain the male upper wing pattern and long grey shoulder feathers. Juveniles resemble females, but have less neat scalloping, a duller brown speculum, and a narrower trailing edge to the speculum. The northern pintail walks well on land and swims well. When swimming in water, it holds a forward-leaning position, with the base of its neck almost flush with the water. Its flight is very fast, and its wings are held slightly swept back, rather than straight out from the body like other ducks. In flight, males have a black speculum with a white border at the rear and pale rufous at the front. Females have a dark brown speculum with a white border, which is narrow on the front edge and very prominent on the back, visible at a distance of 1,600 m (1 mi). Males produce a soft proop-proop whistle, similar to the call of the common teal. Females give a mallard-like descending quack, and a low croak when flushed. This dabbling duck breeds in northern areas of the Palearctic, extending as far south as approximately Poland and Mongolia, and also breeds in Canada, Alaska, and the Midwestern United States. It winters mainly south of its breeding range, reaching almost to the equator in Panama, northern sub-Saharan Africa, and tropical South Asia. Small numbers migrate to Pacific islands, particularly Hawaii, where a few hundred birds winter on the main islands in shallow wetlands and flooded agricultural habitats. Transoceanic journeys do occur: a bird caught and ringed in Labrador, Canada, was shot by a hunter in England nine days later, and birds ringed in Japan have been recovered from six US states, as far east as Utah and Mississippi. In parts of its range such as Great Britain and the northwestern United States, the northern pintail may be present year-round. The northern pintail's breeding habitat is open unwooded wetlands, such as wet grasslands, lake shores, or tundra. In winter, it uses a wider range of open habitats, such as sheltered estuaries, brackish marshes, and coastal lagoons. It is highly gregarious outside the breeding season, and forms very large mixed flocks with other species of duck.
