
PINTAIL 
Sex Determination 
The speculum is at least partly iridescent green on males, but a 
dull non-iridescent bronze or rarely non-iridescent green on females. 
Adult and first winter ‘male tertials are long and gray with a wide 
marginal black stripe. The tertials of females are shorter and more 
brownish and lack the black stripe. Juvenile tertials of both sexes 
are similar and somewhat like those of females. Vermiculated scapulars 
are found only on males but non-vermiculated scapulars may be present 
on both males and females. 
Tertials and scapulars are useful for identifying some males, but 
not for separating the sexes completely. 
Age Determination of Males 
The tertial coverts of the juvenile plumage are conspicuously 
edged with a light yellowish brown. Birds with such feathers are 
immature males. Tertial coverts of both adult and first winter 
plumages are unedged, and thus are found on both ‘adult and immature 
birds. Tertials lacking the black edging are juvenile and represent 
immature males. It seems likely that birds with new tertials growing 
in after December lst are immatures (as in the mallard). 
The most useful character for separating the ages is the condition 
of the middle coverts. These are heavily edged on immatures and often 
appear narrow, rough, and frayed. Some of these feathers persist 
throughout the hunting season. On adult males, these feathers are 
unfrayed and generally unedged. About one wing in 20 shows faint 
light edging, but the general aspect of these is such that they can 
readily be identified as adults. 
Age Determination of Females 
The tertial coverts of the juvenile plumage are much frayed, 
often poorly edged and individual feathers often long and narrow. 
The tertial coverts of both adults and birds in their first winter 
plumage are not greatly frayed, are well rounded,and have conspicu- 
ous edging. 
The middle coverts of the juvenile plumage are rather narrow 
and somewhat trapezoidal. The barring of these feathers is largely 
made up of triangular patches at the feather's edge. The middle 
coverts of adults are broad and rounded and the barring is made up 
of variable shaped patches recessed from the feather's edge. 
20 
