Page 105 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Anas acuta
Pintail brown head grey bill
with black
white neck-stripe lines
and breast
long black tail
spike
MALE (WINTER)

yellowish patch
outstretched
head and neck MALE (WINTER)
dull greyish body
white trailing
edge
grey bill
FEMALE
pale breast plain, pale
tawny head
mottled grey-brown body grey
with grey legs
dark pale belly bill
patch MALE (SUMMER)
IN FLIGHT
arge and slim, the Pintail is perhaps the most elegant pointed
Lof all the surface-feeding ducks. It is numerous in a tail
few traditional wintering areas, both salt- and freshwater, FEMALE
but otherwise rather scarce, usually in ones and twos among
commoner waterfowl. Individuals in autumn flocks are always
a bit of a challenge for the birdwatcher, before the striking FLIGHT: quick, straight, with head and neck
winter plumage of the males has fully developed. outstretched, tail long.
VOICE Male has low, short
whistle; female’s quack like
Mallard’s but quieter.
NESTING Leaf- and down-
lined hollow on ground; 7–9
eggs; 1 brood;April–June.
FEEDING Mostly dabbles
and upends in water but also
grazes on grass and marsh UPENDING PINTAILS
and visits cereal fields for Pintail drakes tip up to feed, revealing the long tail, black vent, and
spilt grain. white belly.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Breeds mostly in N and E Europe,
sporadically in W, nesting on
GADWALL 2 white on head moorland and coastal marshes.
similar to 2;
see p.102 In winter, flocks concentrate on
traditional areas on estuaries and
white square
blue larger on wings fresh marshes south to
speculum short bill Mediterranean, with very small
numbers turning up elsewhere.
MALLARD 2 orange LONG-TAILED DUCK 3
similar to 2; similar to 3winter; Seen in the UK
see p.101 bill see p.114 JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 53–70cm (21–28in) Wingspan 80–95cm (32–37in) Weight 550–1,200g (20–43oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan 15–25 years Status Vulnerable
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