PINTAIL 
321 
formation is the same as in many other ducks; long, wavy, irregular lines with the 
individuals flying abreast, or nearly so. 
Association with other Species. The Pintail is one of the most sociable of 
ducks, and mingles freely with almost all shoal-water species, particularly the 
Mallard, Widgeon and Teal. In the early autumn on our great prairie sloughs one 
finds it in the company of Blue-winged Teal as well as of Shovellers. In the Old 
World its habits are the same, and many writers mention its association with the 
Mallard, European Widgeon, Gadwall and Common Teal. In the Far East it seems 
to show partiality for the Falcated Teal (Prjevalski, 1878). If anything, it shows 
preference for the Widgeon. I once took a photograph show ing a flock of at least two 
thousand ducks, almost entirely Pintail and American Widgeon, rising from the 
mud at Long Point, Lake Erie, in early October. 
On the breeding grounds of the West, Pintail have been found nesting on the same 
island with Mallard, Gadwall, Baldpate, Shoveller, Green-winged, Blue-winged and 
Cinnamon Teal (Job, 1915). 
Voice. The Pintail is a remarkably silent bird, and one may see hundreds coming 
and going without hearing a sound. The voice is interesting because it has affinities 
with that of the Mallard, Widgeon and even the Teal. The ordinary call-note of the 
male is a low and rather musical double whistle, softer than the Widgeon’s, and only 
occasionally heard during winter. It is primarily the courtship note, but is not 
heard commonly even in the spring. An additional note which I do not recall hav- 
ing ever heard, is described in various ways. It is probably used only in the breeding 
season and is said to resemble the syllable proop, being analogous to the Green- 
wing’s preep (Harper, MS.). German writers have also distinguished this note, but 
they describe it as kriick or brub, uttered during display (Heinroth, 1911). 
The female’s note may be heard at any time of the year, although she is a far more 
silent bird than the Black Duck or Mallard. Her note is a quack, usually not so 
clear and perhaps a bit different from the Mallard’s, but at other times indistinguish- 
able from it. This quack is used of course in various ways: by the female when 
leading the young, as an alarm call, as a flocking call at night, etc. Many writers 
have described also a harsh, rolling note somew^hat like the Widgeon’s. 
The trachea of the male, first described by Latham and Romsey (1798), is about 
230 mm. in length, and slightly enlarged at about 25 mm. above the bony laby- 
rinth. The bulb itself is left-sided and, except in size, is not very different from that 
of the Mallard or Teal. 
Food. There is little that is characteristic in the feeding habits of this species, 
for it closely resembles the Mallard in its diet. The investigations of the U.S. 
