Widespread winter visitor. Top sites include Tacumshin Lake in County Wexford, Strangford Lough in County Down, Dublin Bay in County Dublin, Little Brosna Callows in County Offaly and Dundalk Bay in County Louth (100-300 birds).
Pintail
Irish Name: | Biorearrach |
Scientific name: | Anas acuta |
Bird Family: | Ducks |
Conservation status
Status
Local winter visitor to wetlands throughout Ireland from October to March.
Identification
Large, elegant duck, males with elongated tail feathers, brown head, white breast and lower neck, the white extending as a narrow stripe into the brown on either side of the head. Grey flanks, black rump, blackish-green speculum, bordered by white at the rear, and pale rufous at the front. Females brown and scalloped with long pointy tail
Voice
Males with clear whistle 'krru', lower pitched than Teal.
Diet
Their diet consists largely of plant seeds and underwater plants, while insects and crustaceans are also eaten. They also feed on farmland, particularly stubble.
Breeding
Nest in shallow freshwater marshes, small lakes and rivers, preferably with dense vegetation cover. Small breeding population of between 30 and 40 pairs in Britain, and there have been a few breeding records in Ireland - one pair in County Down in 1994
Wintering
In winter, they form large flocks on brackish coastal lagoons, in estuaries and on large inland lakes.