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common pintail
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Common, or northern, pintail (Anas acuta). common pintail A male pintail duck stands on a rocky shore beside a green pond, showing its long tail feathers and brown head. A male Northern Pintail duck with a brown head, white neck, and long pointed tail feathers swims on blue water.
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common pintail

bird
Also known as: Anas acuta, northern pintail
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Common, or northern, pintail (Anas acuta).
Common, or northern, pintail (Anas acuta).

The common pintail (Anas acuta) is a species of dabbling duck known for its sleek appearance, long tail, and long neck. These ducks are swift fliers and are considered popular game birds.1

The male common pintail has a distinctive brown head and throat, a white breast, and gray back, with notably long central tail feathers. The female is primarily mottled brown. This species is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and is a long-distance migrant, with some birds traveling from Alaska to Hawaii for the winter. Pairs form during the wintering period, and males follow females back to their summer breeding grounds. Pintails typically nest in marshes or on prairies, laying about eight olive-colored eggs. Their diet mainly consists of seeds.1

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