Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

I’m a distinctive-looking duck that winters in Florida. If you look at my tail, it comes to a sharp point, hence my name “pin-tail.” Our males have a distinctive brown head, and our females are mottled brown.

Most Likely Found: In a pond, In the marsh

When: Winter

Where I've photographed: Circle B Bar Reserve, Lake Hancock Outfall Wetlands, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Read more: Northern Pintail at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Ebird: Northern Pintail eBird range


I have written 7 posts including a photo of a Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Lifer Clapper Rail at Merritt Island NWR

January 25, 2015 - Northern Pintails - the male on the left with the characteristic "pin tail", and the female on the right doing what dabbling ducks do best - stick their butts in the air!... Read more

Silly Bird, Turn Your Head This Way!!

December 30, 2011 - My friend Donna had said that the afternoon light was best for trying to photograph the Northern Pintails, a duck that is wintering at Merritt Island in great numbers right now.... Read more

Another Great Sunrise at the Circle B Bar Reserve

January 9, 2011 - Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks prepare to land We hoped to see the Northern Pintails off the south side of Marsh Rabbit Run, where they were yesterday.... Northern Pintail Species List: American Bittern, American Coot, American Goldfinch (heard), American Robin, American White Pelican, American Wigeon, Anhinga, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher (heard), Black-Bellied…... Read more

Northern Pintail

What’s Going On Up There?

December 17, 2010 - Another birder pointed out a pair of Northern Pintails.  I've never seen them before, so that was pretty cool.... Northern Pintails I spotted a Wilson's Snipe flying overhead (another Circle B first for me.)  Nearby, a Pied-Billed Grebe had a fish, which he proceeded to slowly swallow...... Species list: Anhinga,…... Read more