Northern Pintail Duck - Duck Hunting - Wetland Hunting

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Northern Pintail Duck

 

Description

The northern pintail ducks are widespread in Asia, Europe, and North America making it one of the most numerous duck species in the world. The slim and long-necked bird has an elegant appearance both in flight and on water. The male northern pintail ducks have a chocolate brown head with a white stripe on each side of their neck. The male ducks have a blackish gray back, a white patch on either side of the rump, and a blue-gray bill that has a black stripe along the center. The legs and feet of the male game birds are slate gray and they display a glittering greenish-black speculum when flying. The females have a dark brown upper body with the lower body and the head either being buff or gray. When flying, the females display a dull brown or bronze speculum. Both sexes measure 51 – 76 cm in length, weigh between 500 and 1450g and have a wingspan of 86.4 cm.

Habitat
Fresh ponds, prairies, lakes, marshes, and salt bays are the main habitats for these birds. However, in summer, the northern pintail ducks have a wide range of habitats including farmlands, prairies, northern tundra and near water bodies. In winter or during migration, these birds occupy shallow waters that have exposed mudflats, for instance, fresh &brackish marshes, lakes and flooded fields.

Diet
Diet is mainly insects and seeds. In fall and winter, waste grains in fields and plant materials are the main foods especially the seeds of pondweeds, grasses, sedges, etc. However, in summer and spring, these birds feed on new growth and roots. At times, the diet can include insects, crustaceans, mollusks and sometimes small fish and tadpoles. The young ducklings usually feed on insects to obtain the required growth nutrients.

Nesting
Pairing starts during the winter season although it continues to the spring migration. Several males can court one female resulting in the pursuit of flights as a way of impressing the females. The nest is mainly built by the female on dry ground. The nest site is near a source of water/wetlands and it's surrounded by short vegetation to offer protection. The females line the shallow depression with grass, twigs, and leaves before laying the eggs.

Eggs
The number of eggs can vary from 7 to 10 although some female ducks can lay up to 12 eggs. The incubation is done by the females only for 21 to 25 days. The young ducklings feed themselves although the female leads them to feeding grounds. The young can start making short flights 38 to 52 days after hatching.


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