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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Anatidae
  4. ›
  5. Anas
  6. ›
  7. Northern Pintail
Northern Pintail
Photo · Hobbyfotowiki

BirdUp · Species

Northern Pintail

Anas acutaLinnaeus, 1758

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Vagrant
Order
ANSERIFORMES
Family
Anatidae
Genus
Anas

At a glance

The Northern Pintail, listed as Least Concern. It can be seen year-round.

Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Vagrant
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The pintail or northern pintail is a duck species with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding range as far as the equator. Unusually for a bird with such a large range, it has no geographical subspecies, although the possibly conspecific duck Eaton's pintail is considered to be a separate species.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Wingspan
80 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • Watch for a unique swimming posture where the bird leans forward, often holding the base of its neck nearly flush with the water surface.

flight

  • Observe the narrow wings that appear swept-back in flight; look for a prominent white trailing edge on the wing speculum that is highly visible from a distance.

plumage

  • Identify breeding males by their chocolate-brown head and the crisp white stripe extending up the neck, plus a pale yellowish vent area that contrasts with the black undertail.

size_and_shape

  • This duck has a strikingly slender, elongated profile with a long neck and pointed tail; breeding males display iconic, needle-like central tail feathers.

voice

  • Listen for the male's soft, flute-like 'proop-proop' whistle; females give a series of descending quacks or a low, rough croak when flushed.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Northern Pintail?

The Northern Pintail is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Northern Pintail live in Australia?

The Northern Pintail is found in Australia, recorded across 7 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNA, PAL : widespread

Non-breedingMA, OR and AF

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Non-breeding
  • Passage
  • Breeding

4 regions recorded