Northern Pintail

The Northern Pintail looks graceful and elegant. Both male and female are easily rec-
ognized in flight or from a distance by their long necks and long, "pin" tails. The
species name, acuta, means "sharp," in reference to this bird's tail.
The Northern Pintail is most abundant during migration, especially in late summer
and autumn when both adults and juveniles pass through the Vancouver area in large
flocks. At this time of year, tens of thousands of Northern Pintails can be found
feeding on a variety of plants and small aquatic animals in marshes and fields sur-
rounding the Fraser River delta. Only a few pairs stay in the Vancouver area to breed
over summer.

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