Photo: Northern Pintail Duck

A photo of a Northern Pintail Duck in a fishing lagoon in Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona during the past winter.

Northern Pintails are a medium sized dabbling duck. They are distinguished from other dabbling ducks by their slim profile, elegant neck and pointed tail. Drakes have a chocolate brown head and white neck and under-parts. The long, central tail feathers are black while the others are grey with a white margin. Speculum is iridescent green or green-black. Hens can be identified from other dabbling hens by their slender body, pointed tail, mottled dull brown or bronze speculum and mottled to spotted dark grey to black bill. Upper body feathers are dark brown while the lower body feathers are a lighter, spotted buff or grey. Photo captured with Nikon D40 and Nikon 55-200mm VR lens. All photos by Donald Peterson, Newark1 Web Design Portfolio