NORTHERN PINTAIL

IT IS A FAIRLY LARGE DUCK. MALE IS 59 TO 76 CMS., FEMALE IS 51 TO 64 CMS., BREEDING PLUMAGED MALE HAS A CHOCOLATE BROWN HEAD AND WHITE BREAST WITH A WHITE STRIPE EXTENDING UP THE SIDE OF THE NECK.ITS UPPERPARTS AND SIDES ARE GREY, BUT ELONGATED GREY FEATHERS WITH BLACK CENTRAL STRIPES ARE DRAPED ACROSS THE BACK FROM THE SHOULDER AREA.VENT AREA IS YELLOW CONTRASTING WITH BLACK UNDERSIDE OF THE TAIL, WHICH HAS THE CENTRAL FEATHERS ELONGATED TO AS MUCH AS 10 CMS.BILL IS BLUISH AND LEGS ARE BLUE-GREY.ADULT FEMALE IS MAINLY SCALLOPED AND MOTTLED IN LIGHT BROWN WITH A MORE UNIFORMLY GREY BROWN HEAD, ITS POINTED TAIL IS SHORTER THAN MALE’S.IT HAS LONG NECK AND LONG GREY BILL. PINTAIL WALKS WELL ON LAND, AND SWIMS WELL.IT HAS A VERY FAST FLIGHT, WITH ITS WINGS SLIGHTLY SWEPT BACK.IT FEEDS BY DABBLING AND UPENDING IN SHALLOW WATER FOR PLANT FOOD MAINLY IN THE EVENING OR AT NIGHT.ITS LONG NECK ENABLES IT TO TAKE FOOD ITEMS FROM THE BOTTOM OF WATER BODIES UPTO 30 CMS. DEEP.IT ALSO FEEDS ON ROOTS , GRAINS AND OTHER SEEDS IN THE FIELDS.

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