Northern Pintail

Description: Northern pintails are easily identifiable in flight by their long, slender silhouette. They take their name from the drake’s long pointed tail feathers. The drake has a chocolate-brown head and neck with a white stripe that runs up from the breast to the sides of the neck and head. The chest, belly, and throat are white, while the back and sides are mottled grayish. The speculum is green. The hen is mottled brown with a lighter belly and a brownish speculum. The tail is pointed, though not as long as the drake’s tail. Both drakes and hens have dark gray legs and feet. Drakes are larger than hens. Average size: 21-30 inches. Average weight: 1 ¼-3 pounds.

Science: Northern pintails have a very extensive breeding range, encompassing much of the western United Sates, Canada, and Alaska. Like mallards, the largest breeding populations are found in the prairie pothole region. They favor open wetlands, light rivers, lakes, and streams with marshy shorelines. Their migration begins in August, and they winter throughout the southern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America. While they feed on rice and small grains, pintails are also known to eat invertebrates and aquatic plants. They often feed in grain fields in the morning and late afternoon and spend the remaining time on water or in wetlands. They form very large flocks and often mix with mallards. The northern pintail call is a whistle. Due to the declining northern pintail population, many states have limited bag numbers.

Hunting: Hunting techniques include pass-shooting and the use of blinds and special decoys and whistle like calls. The eating quality is excellent.