The handsome pintail
must be a strong contender for the distinction of being Europe's
most elegant wildfowl species. In breeding plumage the male
is resplendent in chocolate head and neck with a white stripe
extending upwards from breast to ear. Grey underparts and flanks
are set off by beautiful lanceolated scapulars of black, yellow
and grey and there is a pale yellow patch in front of the distinctive
black tail coverts. The female shares the slender neck and body
of the male but is generally a light mottled chestnut with paler
underparts. Juveniles are similar to the female but males in
eclipse are somewhat greyer and may be distinguished by the
bronze-green speculum on the wing. Bill and legs are grey with
a bluish tinge. The pintail has a fast flight with very rapid
wing beats. The male's "pin" tail shows up prominently
in flight but both sexes are long, slender birds with slightly
sickle-shaped wings. The male has a lower pitched "prip"
than the teal while the female occasionally gives a rather weak
mallard-like "quack".
I
am grateful to Eric Begbie who allowed us to use this information
which is reprinted from 'Fowler in the Wild'.
