Northern Pintail, Anas acuta


Northern Pintail
Males in breeding plumage. The long pointed central tail feathers or "pintails" are the last feathers to mature; see them at full length, above, and just beginning to grow out, below.


Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail
A female, above, and an immature male, below; note the shiny two-tone black and light gray bill of the male vs. the female's dark gray,
and compare the scapulars, plain or lightly barred on the young male, mottled on the adult female.


Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail
Standing, female above, male below.

Northern Pintail


Northern Pintails
A female and two males, flying.

Northern Pintail
Male rearing up, above, and landing, below.

Northern Pintail


Northern Pintails
Fighting, between males above, females below.

Northern Pintails


Northern Pintails
During the pair formation season in the fall, a female will swim about, gathering male suitors who form a flotilla around her, as above.

Northern Pintails
Individual males may rush at the female during the courtship, as above.

Northern Pintails
Courtship is over; these two have formed a pair. After forming in fall, pairs don't mate and nest until spring.