Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

HOW TO IDENTIFY:

* Length: 18.5 inches Wingspan: 35 inches
* 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.