Northern Pintail

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This photo shows a Northern Pintail, as seen in on a balmy winter afternoon in Papago Park, Phoenix, Arizona. This is without question, my favorite duck species. Nattily attired, the dark sharply tailored feathers remind me of a custom made Saville Row suit. Even the Northern Pintail’s bill has the polished sheen of patent leather!  The male has a very distinctive brown, grey and white appearance, whereas the female has mainly light brown plumage and a shorter tail. It is highly gregarious when not breeding, forming large mixed flocks with other species of duck. You will often see it mixing with the mallards and geese that are permanent residents of Papago Park’s fishing lagoons and marshes. See more of my favorite Bird, Duck and Geese photos here.