Northern Pintail Duck - Ross Feldner

One of the most widespread species of duck, this elegant bird is known for its long slender neck and long central tail feathers. They migrate earlier than many other species of dabbling ducks reaching their breeding grounds as soon as the ice melts. During the breeding season, Northern Pintails nest primarily on the ground in grasslands, but also in fallow croplands and winter wheat fields.

They get their name partially from their long central tail feathers ending in a point.

Northern Pintails are dabbling ducks of North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. They can be found year-round in northern habitats ranging from flooded agricultural fields and wetlands to lakes and ponds.

Northern Pintails are omnivores, eating seeds from aquatic plants, worms, aquatic insects, snails, and grains. They are often seen walking along shallow muddy shores stopping to pick at insects and seeds every few steps. These ducks are versatile feeders, scooping up food from the water's surface or submerging their heads to forage beneath it. Their diet comprises a diverse array of aquatic vegetation, such as algae, tubers, grasses, and seeds. They supplement this plant-based diet with small aquatic animals, including insects, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, and fish.

A major threat to this duck is habitat loss. Its population continues to decrease as a result of the conversion and fragmentation of wetlands and prairie habitats.