Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Aves
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 3-20 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Crepuscular
- Social
- Flock
- Biome
- Freshwater wetland
- Range
- Northern Hemisphere
- Movement
- Flight
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Speed
- Status
- Common
About
A slender dabbling duck named for its needle-like tail feathers, the male sports a chocolate-brown head, white breast stripe, and elegantly elongated central tail plumes that can add several inches to his silhouette. It is among the fastest-flying ducks, with migratory flocks recorded moving at over 40 mph.
Life cycle
- 1.eggA clutch of eggs rests in a down-lined nest near water, covered and warmed by the brooding female.
- 2.hatchlingA downy hatchling follows its mother to the water within hours and feeds itself almost immediately.
- 3.juvenileA juvenile grows its first true feathers, swimming in the family group and learning to dabble or dive.
- 4.adultFully grown with adult plumage.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Anas
- Species
- Anas acuta