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Northern Pintail

The Northern Pintail drake (Anas acuta) has a chocolate-brown head and a white neck and underparts, the white extending up back of neck in thin line. The female, with shades of brown, has a paler neck and head, and a greyish beak. In flight, they both display a long neck, a thin body, long pointy wings, and a dark speculum bordered with white on the edge. The flying female has brown spotted top feathers that contrast with its stomach and its long wedge-shaped tail. However, it does not have the same long rectrices as the male.

A large quantity of northern pintail ducks can be found in marshes, ponds, and exposed lakes. This duck often eats in cereal fields during winter. A lot more common in the west than in the east of the country, this duck species is rare in winter in the north of the country to the Great Lakes as well as to the south of Alaska.

The northern pintail especially likes night time and it builds its nest in a cavity in the ground. The nest, covered with vegetation and female down, is hidden in swampy vegetation. The nesting period takes place between May to September. The female's brood counts 7 to 11 eggs which necessitate an incubation period of 22 to 24 days. The ducklings are precocial and able to leave the nest very early. Only the female takes care of the ducklings. The northern pintail ducklings' first flight happens after 40 days, but it takes them about 10 more days to be completely emancipated.