The drake Pintail is perhaps the most handsome of our ducks, the very epitome of grace and elegance. His most distinctive identification feature is the wavy white stripe extending up the side of his otherwise brown neck, but birds with their necks hidden can still be told by their white chests, grey bodies, black and yellow undertails and of course, the long spiky tails. The female Pintail lacks the colourful plumage and the tail spike but are still unmistakably elegant, with slender, almost swan-like necks, small plain heads and long slim grey bills. In flight the Pintail looks distinctively slender thanks mainly to their long necks and long pointed tails. In both male and female, it is the white trailing edge to the speculum which is most conspicuous.

Breeds on moorland by lochs and pools, and also in marshes. Winters on estuaries and marshes.

Very scarce breeder in the UK at widely scattered sites. Fairly common winter visitor, especially to the Dee, Mersey and Ribble estuaries and inland to the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire.

Widespread as a breeding bird in northern Europe and as a wintering bird further south. Largest numbers (thousands) occur on estuaries such as the Dee in England, the Tejo in Portugal, the Guadalquivir in Spain and the Rhone (Camargue) in France.

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