Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Male Northern Pintails are elegantly adorned birds. In North America, this bird breeds across most of Canada, Alaska, and the north central USA, but they are also native to Europe and Asia.
The Northern Pintail population has dropped by almost half in the past half century. Most researchers believe the primary culprit is habitat loss and agricultural practices that destroy nests. The US Department of Fish and Wildlife regulates hunting and adjusts regulations with population fluctuations. Drought periods show a corresponding decrease in numbers, and wet years result in some population recovery.
Most of the Pintails I’ve met have been birds wintering in California, but Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas hosted some birds wintering there too.
Despite their global presence, today science views Northern Pintails as monotypic (i.e. no subspecies are recognised).
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Imperial Beach, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:31 14:55 |
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Location:
Imperial Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X0939-NorthernPinTail |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: On the move at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 16:13 |
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Location:
Merced NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5200-NorthernPinTail |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Mated pair at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California USA 2011-12-27. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 16:16 |
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Location:
Merced NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5214-NorthernPinTail |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 13:58 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X6684-NorthernPintail |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Female at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 10:12 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6970-NorthernPintail-Female |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Bachelor males in the Tijuana River above the river mouth. Imperial Beach, California USA 2016-05-27. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 9:41 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD5130.NorthernPinTail |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 15:10 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 |
File Name: JCD5710.NorthernPinTail |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 15:54 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 |
File Name: JCD5847.NorthernPinTail |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2005:02:17 9:40 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_4226NorthernPintail |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2005:02:17 9:41 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_4234NorthernPintail |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Colusa NWR, near Williams, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:18 13:18 |
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Location:
Colusa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/12.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_5283NorthernPintail |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Sunset at Cibola NWR, South of Blyth, CA. In Arizona near the Colorado River. |
Date Taken: 2004:02:06 18:03 |
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Location:
Goose Loop |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/6000 |
File Name: JCD_5965Ducks@Sunset |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Flying over the beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:12 8:25 |
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Location:
Poe Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X3166-NorthernPinTail |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: San Diego Wild Animal Park. Escondido, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:20 14:57 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X0022-NorthernPinTail |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging. |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:13 |
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Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2620-GrayLodge-WLA |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:57 |
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Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2420-GrayLodge-WLA |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:55 |
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Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2383-GrayLodge-WLA |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:45 |
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Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2305-GrayLodge-WLA |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Dabbling ducks such as these pintails are some of the many species found at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 14:23 |
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Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2181-GrayLodge-WLA |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: San Diego Wild Animal Park. Escondido, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:20 14:58 |
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Location:
San Pasqual |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X0026-NorthernPinTail |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging. |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Can you spot the two Cinnamon Teal? The "Auto Tour" at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows in Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 10:30 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2076-SacramentoNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Imperial Beach, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:31 14:56 |
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Location:
Imperial Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X0950-NorthernPinTail |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: (Anas acuta) Captured on 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 13:17 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D506745-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: (Anas acuta) Airborn capture of mostly pintails and a few other 'dabblers' on 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 11:48 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: NorthernPinTail_D506399-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: Wigeons, shovelers and pintails were among the limited numbers of dabbling ducks at Bosque during our Saturday tour. Jerry, his good friend Ken and I spent a few hours at Bosque del Apache before meeting master falconer Matt and his Harris's Hawks. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:05 13:23 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X4708-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: These male Northern Pintails enjoyed foraging in the sloppy mud at the outlet of the Flight Deck Pond. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 13:27 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X1105-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: This male Northern Pintail enjoyed foraging in the sloppy mud at the outlet of the Flight Deck Pond. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 13:52 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X1343-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: The SPI Nature Center had superior access to several species, like this male pintail, I could not see from next door. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day, I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 9:19 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X9842-SouthPadre-WBC |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: It was a relatively slow day for birds at Bosque del Apache, but even a slow day there beats most places I’ve birded. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:30 15:14 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X4255-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
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Description: It was a relatively slow day for birds at Bosque del Apache, but even a slow day there beats most places I’ve birded. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:30 11:43 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X2946-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
|
Description: These male Northern Pintails enjoyed foraging in the sloppy mud at the outlet of the Flight Deck Pond. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 13:41 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/22.0, 1/500 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X1295-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
|
Description: These male Northern Pintails enjoyed foraging in the sloppy mud at the outlet of the Flight Deck Pond. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 13:37 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: NorthernPintail_D5X1270-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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