Conservation of theNorthern Pintail

Anas acuta

Kyle Sams

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Genus: Anas

Species: acuta

Northern PintailIdentification

Drake

• Avg. length is 25”

• Avg. weight is 2.26 lbs.

• Chocolate brown head

• White neck, breast & belly, white finger up back of neck

• Pale grey bill, with black stripe down center

• Gray flanks & back, w/ black centers to back feathers

• Black under-tail coverts

• Long black central tail feathers

• Green speculum w/ white rear border & chestnut forward border

Identification

Hen• Avg. length is 21.4”

• Avg. weight is 1.91 lbs.

• Tan head & neck

• Mottled tan & dark brown body, paler on belly

• Grey bill

• Brown speculum & white rear border

Sub-SpeciesEaton’s Pintail’s

• Kerguelen Pintail (Anas eatoni eatoni)– Confined to Kerguelen islands off S. America

• Crozet Pintail (Anas eatoni drygalskyi)– Confined to Crozet islands, also off S.

America

Pintail Migration

• Among the first ducks to migrate– Most migrating through Cali.

• Others using the Mississippi flyway, to LA, TN, AL, & MS

• Also common visitors in Central America

Breeding Range

• Breed from Alaska, central Canadian

Arctic, Western Greenland, central USA

– Boreal forest

– Alaskan coastal areas

– Prairie potholes

Non-Breeding Range

• Mostly central California, Mexico & Gulf coasts, Texas panhandle, some on Atlantic coast– Over ½ migrate through Cali.

Northern Pintail Range

Mating

• Monogamous– Same pair mate for life

• Sexually mature at 1 year old

• Mate in late April– As late as the end of July

Pintail Breeding Pairs

• The breeding pair numbers was obtained by the Black Duck Joint Venture helicopter survey

Nesting

• Among the first to Nest• Nests in open country, w/ shallow, seasonal

wetlands, & low vegetation• Copulation takes place in the water• Nests is a scrape in ground in brush/grass, lined

w/ grass & down; usually not near water• Hen incubates eggs alone

– Usually takes 21-25 days

Young

• Clutch size is usually 8, range 3-14

• Precocial young

• Fledge in 6-7 weeks

• Around ¾ live to fledge– Half of those live to breed– About 37.5%

Feeding Characteristics

• Pintail’s are DABBLERS– Upend while in the water to feed

• Omnivorous– Feed on seeds, nutlets of aquatic plants, also eats

mollusks, crabs, worms, fairy shrimp, & other aquatic insects

• Insects are more important to females during pre-laying & laying periods

Predation

• People are #1

• Coyotes

• Skunks

• Gulls, crows, magpies

• Badgers

• Raccoons

Population History

• Pop. depends on wet-dry cycle• In 1955, the breeding pop. was around 6 million

– Fluctuating between 2 & 10 million

• In the 1970’s pop’s recovered when the wetland were good, but fell when prairies were dry & wetland conditions were poor

• Agriculture has cause most of the problems• These factors combined have caused declining

pintail population since the 1980’s

Conservation Status

• Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act• Global status is at G5, secure• Not endangered, pop. Are lower than desired• N. American pop. was around 6 million

– Reduced to about 2 million birds according to GDNR

Northern Pintail Distribution

Management

• Protect & restore wetlands• Adequate migration & wintering habitats must be

protected, restored, & enhanced• Protect northern boreal & tundra habitats• Develop farm programs compatible w/ pintail life

style• Manage for moist soil to stimulate the growth of

native plants• Manage for available cover• Cut back on harvest• Proper use of fertilizers, pesticides, & herbicides

Economical Importance

• One of the most sought after ducks by duck hunters

• Damage grain crops and cost farmers money

Interesting Facts

• Range over more of the Earth than any other waterfowl