Pintail - Anas acuta

A scarce winter visitor to Wiltshire as we are on the edge of their winter range, the Pintail arrives from northern Europe and is immediately recognisable by its long tapering ‘pintail'.

Habitat

Normally a bird of estuaries and open wetlands. They can be seen in small numbers during winter in Wiltshire on shallow lakes; Coate Water SSSI and Cotswold Water Park are two good spots in Wiltshire to see them.

Description

Pintails are long-necked with small heads a curved back and pointed wings, this along with the pointed tail – which is more prominent in males – makes them fairly easy to identify.

Females are light brown in colour with a white throat – very similar to a female mallard – but it can be told apart by its short tapering tail, long neck and long grey bill. The male is much easier to identify with its long tapering tail. During the breeding season its body is grey with a white breast and neck stripe which is in striking contrast to its dark brown head. Its beak is bluish and the legs are blue-grey. The males’ non-breeding plumage is much more drab and similar in appearance to the female.

Biology

The Pintail is our fastest-flying duck and during flight the wings make a hissing sound. The male's call is a mellow whistle, whereas the female quacks like a Mallard.

It feeds by dabbling and upending in shallow water for plant food and adds small invertebrates to its diet during the nesting which will include insects, molluscs and crustaceans season. Feeding takes place mainly at night and therefore spends most of the resting. Its long neck enables it to take food items from the bottom of water bodies up to 30cm in depth.

It rarely breeds in the UK; its favoured areas are Scotland, East Anglia and Kent. It nests on the ground, often some distance from water. Out of the breeding season the Pintail forms large mixed flocks with other species of duck.

Threats

The Pintail is not threatened, but predators, parasites, diseases and human activities including agriculture, hunting and fishing, all have an impact on its population.