Northern Pintail

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Estuaries, flooded grassland.
Diet: Seeds, aquatic invertebrates.
Best time to spot: Male's tail-pin is unmistakable.

When to look

A winter visitor, typically in the UK from September through to March. Numbers peak in January. See the January birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in UK winter wildfowl.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Northern Pintail sits in our Uncommon tier for the UK: regular, but you usually need the right place or the right season. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Where to see it

Reserves where the Northern Pintail is on the list:

• Islay
• WWT Slimbridge

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Eurasian TealCommon · Marshes
• Black DuckEpic · Marshes (very rare vagrant)
• Green-winged TealRare · Marshes (winter vagrant)
• MallardCommon · Anywhere with water
• Black-tailed GodwitUncommon · Wet grassland
• Eurasian WigeonCommon · Wet grassland

Kit that helps

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