| Northern Pintail Identification Tips |
| (Credit: U. S. Geological Survey) |
| General
Information - Medium-sized dabbling duck with very long neck, small head and attenuated rear - Juvenile similar to adult female Adult male alternate - Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer - Pale gray bill with black stripe down center - Dark brown head - White neck, breast and belly with white finger extending up back of neck to rear part of face - Gray flanks and back with black centers to back feathers - Whitish patch at rear portion of flanks bordering undertail coverts - Black undertail coverts - Long, black central tail feathers - Green speculum with white rear border and chestnut forward border Adult male basic - Similar to adult female but retains green speculum Adult female - Gray bill - Tan head and neck - Mottled tan and dark brown back and body plumage, paler on belly - Brown speculum with white rear border Similar species Adult male unmistakable in alternate plumage. Females, immature and eclipse-plumage males are similar to many other female ducks but have a distinctive shape: very long-necked, small-headed and pointed-tailed. Note also female's brown speculum bordered at the rear by white. |
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