Any of four species (genus Anas , family Anatidae) of sleek, long-tailed, long-necked dabbling ducks that are swift fliers and popular game birds.
The common, or northern, pintail ( A. acuta ), widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, is a long-distance flier; some Alaskan birds winter in Hawaii. It is 26–30 in. (66–75 cm) long. The male has a white breast, gray back, and black tail; the female is mottled brown. The preferred diet is seeds. The brown, or yellow-billed, and the Bahama, or white-cheeked, pintails are primarily found in South America. The red-billed pintail is a grayish African species.