- Lifespan
- 8–10 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 51–66 cm, wingspan 80–105 cm; 400–570 g
- Habitat
- Open shallow wetlands, marshes, and coastal lagoons with minimal vegetation and clear water.
- UK Distribution
- Winter visitor and passage migrant; small breeding population in northern England and Scotland. Peak numbers October to March.
- Diet
- Dabbling duck that feeds on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates by up-ending in shallow water.
- Predators
- Foxes, mink, and raptors (notably peregrines and hen harriers); eggs and ducklings taken by corvids and herons.
- Mating Season
- February to May
- Breeding
- Clutch of 7–9 eggs; incubation period 22–23 days; single brood per season. Males abandon females during incubation.
- Behaviour
- Highly gregarious in winter, often seen in large flocks. Males are notably attentive during courtship, with a distinctive synchronized head-throw display. Pintails are dabbling specialists, preferring the shallowest waters and rarely diving.