HUNTING
Licensing/Regulations
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FISHING/BOATING
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CONSERVATION
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EDUCATION
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ABOUT
Scientific Name | Anas acuta |
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General Description | L 21”, WS 34”, 1.8 lb. Long and slender throughout. Sports a distinctive pointed black tail, white breast, and brown head. |
Status | Occurs in North Dakota from March to November. Peak breeding season from early April to early May. |
Abundance | Common to abundant. |
Primary Habitat | Wetland complexes of open water and associated upland prairie. |
Federal Status | Migratory Bird. |
Reason for Designation | Identified as a species of High Continental Priority in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. |
Preferred Habitat
Ideal nesting habitat for Northern Pintails is native prairie of low cover interspersed with seasonal or semi-permanent wetlands. CRP, hayfields, pastures, and weedy field borders are utilized. Temporary, seasonal, and semi-permanent wetlands, shallow river impoundments, stock ponds, and dugouts are utilized for foraging. Feed on vegetation consisting of seeds of sedges, grasses, pondweeds, and smartweeds. Primarily feed on aquatic invertebrates during spring that are abundant in shallow temporary and seasonal ponds. Hens in particular utilize aquatic invertebrates as an important food source during breeding, as do ducklings until about 6 weeks of age. Pintails may also use cropland ponds with basins of tilled bottom soil; however, nests initiated in croplands are prone to high failure rates. Annual nest success and productivity vary with water conditions, predation, and weather.
Key Areas and Conditions for Northern Pintail in North Dakota
The USFWS Habitat Population Evaluation Team has built spatially explicit models to depict highest densities of breeding pairs of ducks for targeting conservation.
Habitat
Conversion of grassland to cropland, energy development and wetland drainage. Degradation of grasslands from invasive plants, woody encroachment, succession, and loss of diversity. Wetland loss and/or degradation limit nesting habitat and food resources.
Other Natural or Manmade Factors
The occurrence of lead poisoning in this species is reduced since the ban on lead shot for waterfowl. Destruction of nests initiated in cropland by farm machinery. Predation by mammal species reduces nest success. Mortality from collisions with power lines and wind turbines. Expanding oil and gas development in North Dakota may impact Northern Pintails and there is increasing risk of oilfield contamination to wetlands.
Current Research or Surveys
Previous Research or Surveys
Additional Research or Surveys Needed
Contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department Waterfowl Biologists for most current information needs.
Population and Trend Estimates
Management Recommendations
Monitoring Plans
For nearly 50 years, the May Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey have been in place. In addition, four-square mile and duck brood counts are conducted annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department also conducts annual mid-July duck brood index surveys. At this time, there appears to be no additional monitoring needs.
2005-2015 Progress
The Northern Pintail remains a Level II Species of Conservation Priority. Several State Wildlife Grant Projects (T2-9-R, T-18-R, T-27-HM ) have contributed to habitat enhancement of wetlands for Northern Pintail and other wetland dependent birds.
Note: A listing of works consulted when compiling the information on this page may be found in the 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan.