Pintail

Pintail, common name of a large, long-necked duck that inhabits rivers, ponds, prairies, and marshes throughout most of the world. It is one of the most abundant and widely distributed species of duck.

The male pintail ranges from 64 to 76 cm (25 to 30 in) in length, including its long pointed tail feathers. It has a gray and white body, a brown head, and a black tail. The female, which is smaller than the male, is brownish and has a shorter tail. Both sexes are slim and have a greenish wing patch.

The pintail diet consists mainly of aquatic plants and seeds, which it feeds on by tipping its tail up and reaching underwater with its long neck. It also eats snails, tadpoles, minnows, and aquatic insects. In May or June, the female builds a feather-lined nest in a hollow in the ground. She lays 6 to 12 olive-colored eggs and incubates, or warms, them for 23 days until they hatch. Within hours of hatching, the female leads the young from the nest. The young can feed themselves and will fly within 52 days of hatching.

The pintail is famed as a long-distance flier. Banded birds have been known to fly from North America to New Zealand in about 45 days.

Scientific classification: The pintail is a member of the duck family, Anatidae, in the order Anseriformes, and is classified as Anas acuta.