This waterfowl species averages approximately 2 pounds in weight and about 27 inches in length, and can frequently be seen feeding in water with all of its body submerged except for its tail feathers.

The Northern pintail is a migratory species that ranges between North and South America. It is found more often in the Western U.S. than in the East.

Although the Northern Pintail is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is common and the subject of regulated hunting throughout the United States.

Park Information:
The Northern Pintail is less common in area lakes and reservoirs than many other duck species, but it is seen annually in the fall, winter, and spring. There is limited habitat for this species inside the park boundaries, but pintails may be seen annually as close as the Little River in Townsend, Tennessee. This species may be more common during migration in the reservoirs along the park's southwestern boundary than is reported.

References:

National Geographic Field guide to the birds of North America, Fourth Ed., 2002.

Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.