322 THE PINTAILED DUCK 



Pintail, a half-bred drake, is a very handsome bird. 

 Pintails have also been known to pair with Wigeons. 



The Pintailed Duck is smaller and more slender, but 

 longer than the Common Wild Duck. The middle tail- 

 feathers are long-shaped like a spit or awl, and from 

 these the bird derives its name. The neck is long and 

 thin like that of the Heron. The drake has fine summer 

 plumage. The wings have a shining metallic green 

 beauty-spot bordered with red in front and white behind. 

 Head a dusky-brown, cheeks copper colour. Throat 

 white on either side, and black in the middle from the 

 back of the head downwards. The whole of the under- 

 parts white, also the mantle, which is adorned with fine, 

 close, dark wavy lines. The long pointed shoulder 

 feathers are black with a white border. Tail nearly 

 black, the middle pointed feathers quite black, and also 

 the under tail cover. Legs bluish-grey; beak bluish, 

 eyes brown. The female bird is like the female wild 

 duck in colour but has the long tail feathers. 



