Birds · Anseriformes · Anatidae

Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

A slender, long-necked dabbling duck, recognisable by the two greatly elongated, pointed central tail feathers that give the species its name. The male in breeding plumage has a dark brown head with a white stripe running up from the breast along the side of the neck.

Weight

866 g – 1 kg

Size

51 cm – 76 cm

Lifespan

27 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Estimated population

8,600-17,400 breeding pairs in the EU-27 over 370,000 km², and 94,900-167,000 wintering individuals

FreshwaterOmnivore Diurnal Bird Freshwater

75countries 102parks42same family

Fun facts

Its European population is going two opposite ways: it is falling as a breeder and rising as a winter visitor, a mismatch uncommon among ducks.
It is especially prone to lead poisoning from swallowing lead shot, because it tends to take in large grit stones for grinding seeds.
Despite its enormous range it has no geographical subspecies, which is exceptional in so widespread a bird.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: It prefers lowland grassland, meadows or tundra with shallow fresh, brackish and saline wetlands. In winter it also frequents large inland lakes, brackish coastal lagoons, shallow estuaries, tidal flats and river deltas with farmland alongside
Size at birth: Precocial chicks covered in down, which the female leads straight to the water and which complete their development in 46-47 days
Sexual maturity: 7.9 months
Gestation / incubation: 22 days
Litter / clutch size: 7.5 (average)

Sources consulted: IUCN Red List; Informe Art. 12 de la Directiva Aves (Agencia Europea de Medio Ambiente); European Red List of Birds 2015; Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (morfometría de anátidas europeas); Mateo et al. 2000; Quijano Hernández et al. 2022, Huitzil 22(2); Linnaeus 1758