Yellow-billed Pintail

About

A slender long-tailed duck with pale buff-brown body, dark brown cap, yellow-sided bill, and a distinctive long pointed tail. Found from the South American subtropics to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Gregarious; forms large post-breeding flocks.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	41.1 cm	16.2 in
Weight	626.6666666666666 g	22.11 oz

Identification

Plumage

Brown plumage with pale buff feather edges creating scalloped pattern. Yellow bill with black ridge and tip. Pointed tail; long neck. Iridescent speculum with buff front border. Sexes similar. Andean and South American.

Habitat & Range

Freshwater and brackish lakes, rivers, marshes, and bogs from the Andes to Patagonia in South America, plus the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Ranges from sea level to high altitudes. Partially migratory.

🏖️ Coastal 🌾 Grassland 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Breeds across the northern Palearctic; winters in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.

Diet & Feeding

Eats aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, and small fish; dives in shallow water; diet varies between freshwater and coastal habitats.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: PL. Incubation: 24-28 days.

Clutch Size

3-12

Sound

Song

Female gives a nasal, descending quacking series; male utters a short, whistled note. Calls are softer than the Northern Pintail; heard across South American lakes and pampas marshes.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Anas
Species	Anas georgica

Distribution

Yellow-billed Pintail has been recorded in 8 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Yellow-billed Pintail eat?

Eats aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, and small fish; dives in shallow water; diet varies between freshwater and coastal habitats.

Where does the Yellow-billed Pintail live?

Freshwater and brackish lakes, rivers, marshes, and bogs from the Andes to Patagonia in South America, plus the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Ranges from sea level to high altitudes. Partially migratory.

Is the Yellow-billed Pintail endangered?

The Yellow-billed Pintail has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Yellow-billed Pintail nest?

Nest type: PL. Incubation: 24-28 days.

What does the Yellow-billed Pintail sound like?

Female gives a nasal, descending quacking series; male utters a short, whistled note. Calls are softer than the Northern Pintail; heard across South American lakes and pampas marshes.

How big is the Yellow-billed Pintail?

The Yellow-billed Pintail has a wingspan of 41.1 cm, weight of 626.6666666666666 g.

What order and family does the Yellow-billed Pintail belong to?

The Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.