The Pintail 

 THE PINTAIL 



Dafila acuta (Linnaeus) 



This species visits us in large numbers during the winter, 

 arriving in September and not leaving our shores till April. 

 During this period it is essentially a Sea-Duck, haunting 

 shallow shores and estuaries, where it feeds on aquatic vege- 

 tation, Crustacea, and other animal life brought in by each 

 tide. It is commoner on the east coast than elsewhere 

 owing to the large tracts of shore suited to its habits, but 

 it may be found in smaller numbers on the west and in 

 Ireland, wherever suitable localities exist. 



It is only of late years that it has been known to nest 

 in this country, a small colony having established themselves 

 on one of the Scotch lochs. Elsewhere it breeds abundantly 

 throughout Northern Europe, migrating southwards in winter. 

 The nest is placed in a dry situation, at some little distance 

 from the water. The eggs are rather elongated in shape 

 and pale buffish green in colour. 



The adult male has a brown head, greenish black on the 

 nape. A white stripe runs down the neck on either side, 

 merging into the white of the under parts. Back and 

 flanks dark brown, mottled with grey. Wing coverts buff; 

 speculum bronze green ; tail black, the two central feathers 

 much elongated ; under tail coverts black ; bill and legs 

 slate grey. The female is of varying shades of buff and 

 brown. The elongated neck and general shape of this 

 species is sufficient to distinguish it from others of its family. 



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