northern pintail (Anas acuta)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION

• Length: 18.5 inches Wingspan: 35 inches

• Medium-sized dabbling duck with very long neck, small head and      attenuated rear

• Juvenile similar to adult female

Adult male alternate:

• Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer

• Pale gray bill with black stripe down center

• Dark brown head

• White neck, breast and belly with white finger extending up back of           neck to rear part of face

• Gray flanks and back with black centers to back feathers

• Whitish patch at rear portion of flanks bordering undertail coverts

• Black undertail coverts

• Long, black central tail feathers

• Green speculum with white rear border and chestnut forward border

Adult male basic:

• Similar to adult female but retains green speculum

Adult female:

• Gray bill

• Tan head and neck

• Mottled tan and dark brown back and body plumage, paler on belly

• Brown speculum with white rear border

Similar species:

Adult male unmistakable in alternate plumage. Females, immature and
eclipse-plumage males are similar to many other female ducks but have
a distinctive shape: very long-necked, small-headed and pointed-tailed.
Note also female's brown speculum bordered at the rear by white.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status:N/A
Breeding Habitat:Wetland-open water
Nest Location:N/A
Nest Type:N/A
Clutch Size:6-12
Length of Incubation: 22-25 days
Days to Fledge:36-57
Number of Broods:1
Diet: Primarily plant matter; lesser quantities of aquatic invertebrates,
fish, and reptiles or amphibians

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November

      Winter: December, January, February Acc

 

 

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