102 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



PINTAIL (Dafila acuta). 

 Common or local names: Gray Duck; Sprigtail; Picket-tail; Pheasant Duck. 



Male. 



Length. — Variable; 20 to 30 inches. 



Adult Male. — Head, throat and upper part of fore neck rich dark brown; 

 hind neck black, passing into gray of back and separated from fore 

 neck by a white stripe, which extends upward from the white lower 

 fore neck and under parts; speculum or wing patch bronze, with green- 

 ish reflections, deepening into black behind; speculum bordered by a 

 bar of cinnamon before it and a white bar behind; long black feathers, 

 edged with light silvery gray, extending from shoulder down the wing; 

 narrow wavy dark cross lines extend over most of the gray of flanks 

 and back; tail pointed; middle tail-feathers, five to nine inches long, 

 and black; feathers under tail black; bill and feet slate; iris brown. 



Adult Female. — Top and sides of head, and back and sides of neck light 

 brownish, speckled and streaked with dusky; back brown, the feathers 

 with dark centers and light edges; wing having the two bars but only 

 a trace of the bright speculum seen in the male; under parts whitish, 

 spotted with dusky, darkest on neck; bill and feet slate; tail pointed 

 but not elongated. 



Young Male. — Similar to female, but with speculum as in adult male. 



Field Marks. — Long middle tail-feathers, pure white front neck and under 

 parts, and the dark head distinguish the male in spring, but he is rarely 

 seen in Massachusetts at that season. The long slender neck, small 

 head and bill, and pointed tail distinguish the species. 



Notes. — Rather a silent bird by day, but utters a low-toned hoarse quack 

 at night. A loud quack, a low mellow whistle and a harsh rolling note 

 (Nelson). Have heard a Pintail Drake utter a note when on the wing 

 that resembled a quack, but was not as loud as that of the Mallard Drake, 

 resembling the syllables qua, qua (Benjamin F. Howell) . A low chatter- 

 ing note as the flock moves along the water (Hatch) . The whistle noted 

 above is usually attributed to the Drake and the quack to the Duck. 



