A large, long-necked duck that migrates from its breeding grounds in Northern Europe, arriving in November and leaving by the end of March. The male has a chocolate-brown head with a white stripe running down the side, which expands to cover the neck and underparts. The upperparts are predominantly grey with very fine dark penciling and some areas of black to the sides. Long, dark pointed pin-like feathers extend well beyond the long tail. The female is mottled brown and buff with elongated body and tapering tail without pin feathers. It can be found on reed-fringed freshwater wetlands like Keezhnathur and brackish lagoons, and is usually seen in large flocks. It feeds in the evening and at night on vegetable matter which it grubs about for in wet cultivation and grassy edges of the water.
Anas acuta Linnaeus, 1758
🗒 Synonyms
synonym | Anas acuta acuta Linnaeus, 1758 |
🗒 Common Names
Assamese |
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English |
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en |
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📚 Overview
Summary
Bird group
Ducks, geese, swans
Description
The pintail or northern pintail (Anas acuta) is a duck. During the breeding season the male northern pintail has a chocolate-brown head, white underparts and a white neck, with a thin, white line extending up the back of the neck, and a long, black tail bordered by yellowish-tan patches. The upper back and sides are grey, the lower back feathers are black with pale edges, and the rear of the wing is bronzy-greenish, with a black band and white rear edge. The eyes are dark brown and the legs are grey. At other times of the year, the male northern pintail has duller, brownish plumage, with fine, dark streaks on the neck and broad, dark barring on the upperparts. The female northern pintail lacks the colourful plumage of the male, with largely brown upperparts, a tan crown and face, whitish underparts, and a bronzy-greenish band on the rear of the wing, as well as bluish-grey legs and a dull black bill.
No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
📚 Natural History
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Habitat
Terrestrial
Marine
Freshwater
Grubs in squelchy mud in inundated cultivation and on grassy tank margins, also 'up-ends' in shallow water.
Description
Global Distribution
India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Distribution In India
In winter throughout Indian Union
Distribution In Assam
Migratory in Assam
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Category
Least Concern
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
📚 Information Listing
References
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. Checklist of the birds of India (v1.1). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 03 October, 2016].
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2018. Checklist of the birds of India (v2.0). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 31 January, 2018].
- BirdLife International. 2017. Anas acuta (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22680301A111739836. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22680301A111739836.en. Downloaded on 25 April 2018. Date of access - 25/04/2018.
- Carboneras, C. & Kirwan, G.M. (2018). Northern Pintail (Anas acuta). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52884 on 25 April 2018). Date of access - 25/04/2018.
Information Listing > References
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2016. Checklist of the birds of India (v1.1). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 03 October, 2016].
- Praveen J., Jayapal, R., & Pittie, A., 2018. Checklist of the birds of India (v2.0). Website: http://www.indianbirds.in/india/ [Date of publication: 31 January, 2018].
- BirdLife International. 2017. Anas acuta (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22680301A111739836. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22680301A111739836.en. Downloaded on 25 April 2018. Date of access - 25/04/2018.
- Carboneras, C. & Kirwan, G.M. (2018). Northern Pintail (Anas acuta). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52884 on 25 April 2018). Date of access - 25/04/2018.
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🐾 Taxonomy
Root | Root |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Aves |
Order | Anseriformes |
Family | Anatidae |
Genus | Anas |
Species | Anas acuta Linnaeus 1758 |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
👥 Groups