PINTAIL 
325 
Second clutches may contain only four eggs. The eggs are slightly smaller and more 
elongated than those of the Mallard. In color they vary from buff to pale olive green, 
apparently never clear greenish like many Mallard eggs, but they cannot always 
be distinguished from those of the latter. They measure from 52-61 by 36-42 mm., 
the average being 55 by 38 mm. The nest-down is blackish, black, brown or sepia, 
with large white centers (A. C. Jackson, 1918). The incubation period lasts from 
twenty -three to twenty -five days (W. Evans, 1891; Hantzsch, 1905; et al.). 
The gathering of the males in considerable flocks as soon as the females begin to 
incubate is characteristic of this species. In some localities, as for instance on the 
Bear River Marshes, Utah, males come in from the surrounding country, so that on 
June 14 Wetmore (1921) noted a body of from 2500 to 3000 Pintails, all males. As 
in some other northern ducks, a few rare cases of the drake remaining with the 
female until after the young have been hatched, have been recorded (Naumann, 
1896-1905; Hantzsch, 1905). 
The eclipse plumage is assumed by the male in late June and early July. Harper 
(MS.) found a male which had moulted all the primaries by July 2, and another in 
partial eclipse June 28, but these must be exceptionally early dates for a place so far 
north. 
Status. Almost everywhere in America, except in eastern Canada and the New 
England States, this duck ranks first or second in abundance. I doubt whether the 
shooting records give a true picture of the comparative abundance, for the following 
reasons: the shooting season at Lake Erie, for instance, begins too late to take in the 
whole migration of such an early duck, and even when it is abundant, sportsmen 
often prefer to shoot the larger marsh ducks or the diving ducks. On its southern 
feeding grounds, where it spends the whole winter, it becomes so shy and gathers 
into such flocks that, in comparison with its numbers, it suffers perhaps less than any 
species of shoal-water duck. I think this duck has profited more than any other in 
America from increased protection and the closing of markets. 
At Long Point, Lake Erie, between the years 1887 and 1920, out of 156,112 ducks 
shot, 37,950 (25%) were Pintails. In some years it is second in abundance there, 
being greatly exceeded by the Black Duck only. During the period under discussion 
there seems to have been a falling off since about 1901, which was one of the highest 
years, with a total of 2628 Pintail. Other years just as high were those of 1891 
and 1893. 
At the Monroe Marsh Club, Lake Erie, the Pintail, for some reason or other, is 
exceeded in numbers by the Mallard, Canvas-back, Red-head, Blue-bill (Scaup, 
species?), Baldpate, Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal. In the years 1885 to 
1901, only 2809 Pintail were taken in a total of 40,615, but this is very likely to be 
a matter of sportsman’s preference. 
