A male and female northern pintail swimming together. — Photo: J.M.Garg, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

A slender, long-tailed duck nicknamed 'the greyhound of the skies' that has been seen on every continent but Antarctica.

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About the Northern Pintail

Northern pintails can be more than 2 feet long with a wingspan up to 3 feet. Males have a chocolate-brown head and a long pointed tail. They breed from Alaska across the Canadian Arctic to Greenland and south into the central United States, and they migrate long distances. They eat water plants, seeds and grasses, and in summer they also eat insects, snails and small fish.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Anas acuta^[1]
Size: Over 2 feet long; wingspan up to 3 feet.^[1]
Weight: Over 2 pounds.^[1]
Lifespan: Up to 22 years in the wild.^[1]
Diet: Water plants, seeds and grasses, plus insects, snails, crustaceans and small fish in summer.^[1]
Habitat: Wetlands and prairies.^[1]
Where it lives: Breeds across northern North America; seen on every continent except Antarctica.^[1]
Group life: Large flocks in winter and migration; nests in pairs.^[1]
Babies: About 8 eggs, incubated for 21 to 25 days.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2019).^[2]

Fun facts

Northern pintails can fly up to 65 miles per hour.^[1]
They have been seen on every continent except Antarctica.^[1]
Ducklings leave the nest within hours of hatching.^[1]

Vocabulary

dabbling duck: A duck that feeds at the water's surface, often tipping its head down and tail up.
migrate: To travel from one region to another with the seasons.
precocial: Born or hatched able to move around and feed itself soon after.
clutch: A group of eggs laid at one time.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Northern pintail.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/northern-pintail (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Anas acuta (Northern Pintail).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22680301/153882797 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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