pintail
Anas acuta

Compare with:
long-tailed duck

Key facts

Slim, attractive duck; male elegant, well marked; Female brown and heavily mottled

Habitat: marshes, estuaries and freshwater

Widespread winter visitor; scarce breeder

Recognition

Male slim with brown head, long tail, yellow/black rear and grey body; smaller female brown with pointed short tail

Feeds mostly by up-ending although dabbles in margins

Eats invertebrates and aquatic vegetation; flight very strong and quick

Lifecycle

Nest is a lined hollow in vegetation; breeds Iceland, Scandinavia and N. Europe

1 Brood April – June ; 7-9 eggs yellowish white

pintail
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