Adventures Outdoors'
In Wisconsin
PINTAIL
(Anas Actua)
ABOUT THEM
The Pintail fly's in high flying flocks very fast at speeds of 65mph. They migrate out through Wisconsin very early, and among the first ducks to arrive at their wintering grounds. the majority of Pintail migrate through California to the Central Valley of California. some continue to the west coast of Mexico. The Pintails coming down the Central flyway winter mostly in the Texas Panhandle and western Louisiana. The Pintails migrating through Wisconsin and the Mississippi flyway winter in Louisiana, with smaller numbers in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. They have also been seen wintering in Central America. The Pintails breed from Alaska the Central Canadian arctic, and western Greenland south to the western and central USA. Hen Pintails often nest far from water on the ground laying an average of 8 eggs. They feed on aquatic plants and in waste grain fields. Pintails were once one of the most abundant of Ducks but their population has sharply declined since the 1950,s. Their breeding population in 2001 was estimated at 3.3 million birds which is substantially lower than the NAWMP goal of 5.5 million. Their decline is due to the loss of habitat.
DESCRIPTION
The Drake has a slender body with a long pointed tail, dark brown head, with a white underside that extends up His breast and forms a side stripe up the neck, green, bronze, and violet wing speculum, and a bluish-gray bill and feet.
The Hen is mottled brown, has a duller speculum than the Drake, the tail is not as long as the Drakes, with a white underside, and a bluish-gray bill and feet.
SIZE
Average Length = Drake, 26" Hen = 21"
Average Weight = 2lbs
Average Wingspan = 34"