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Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)


Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Photo Information
Copyright: Nel Diepstraten (NellyD) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 362 W: 0 N: 697] (2745)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-02
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon 350 D, Canon EF 55-200 mm 1:4.5-5.6 II USM
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Friday theme 2008/03/07 "Reflection" [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-07 7:30
Viewed: 535
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Taken at the Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam.

About the Northern Pintail from the internet:

The Pintail or Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is a widely-occurring duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator. Unusually for a bird with such a large range, it has no geographical subspecies if the possibly conspecific Eaton's Pintail is considered to be a separate species.

This is a fairly large duck, with a long pointed tail that gives rise to the species' English and scientific names. The male has a very distinctive brown, grey and white appearance, whereas the female has mainly light brown plumage and a shorter tail. The male's call is a mellow whistle, whereas the female quacks like a Mallard.

The Northern Pintail is a bird of open wetlands which nests on the ground, often some distance from water. It feeds by dabbling for plant food and adds small invertebrates to its diet during the nesting season. It is highly gregarious when not breeding, forming large mixed flocks with other species of duck.

The Pintail walks well on land, and swims buoyantly.It has a very fast flight, with its wings slightly swept-back, rather than straight out from the body like other ducks. In flight, the male shows a black speculum bordered white at the rear and pale rufous at the front, whereas the female's speculum is dark brown bordered with white, narrowly at the front edge but very prominently at the rear, being visible at a distance of 1600 metres (1 mi).

The male's call is a soft proop-proop whistle, similar to that of the Common Teal, whereas the female has a Mallard-like descending quack, and a low croak when flushed.
riverfriends, japiey, Hendrika, kokos101, boomcat, vandana2923 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Hendrika: Hoi Els,NellyD 1 03-09 11:08
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Fid Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 0 N: 16] (202)
  • [2008-03-07 7:33]

Hi Nel,

Nice pic, very focus. Fine details on the duck.

TFS! Fid.

  • Great 
  • crazy Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 132 W: 0 N: 38] (343)
  • [2008-03-07 8:28]

Dear Nel,

what a cut duck.
Water mood is excellent.
good job.

stay well.

Hi Nel:
I like how you have had him pose for you:)
Great details, color and comp!!!
TFS
David

Hi Nel,

Great composition,
well done.
Lovely tones..

jp

Hi Nel, great portrait of lovely anas, wonderful reflections and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

hi nel!
lovely duck shot with nice colors.
tfs
zoran

i like how the duck make twirl and reflection in the water.. i love cute duck with colourful feathers too.. we don't see like this here unless in the zoo like that.. that's why i collect figurines :)

well done on your shot, Necla.. simply beautiful..

regards, terry

  • Great 
  • marijo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 236 W: 0 N: 84] (1464)
  • [2008-03-08 15:14]

Hi Nel,
Marvelous picture, perfect image. Congratulations for the beautiful photo.
Regars
Maria

Wat prachtig is deze Nel, de diepe kleuren, schitterende details, stralend oogje, het heeft gewoon alles!
Ik hoop dat je het niet erg vindt, maar ik heb deze aan het Friday Reflections Thema toegevoegd.

TFS
Els
:)zondag

Hello Nel,
That is cute looking duck.
Good details and composition. TFS
Vandana
later

Hello Nel,
I like the point of view, resulting in this fine profile portrait!
Excellent details in the plumage, and the ripples in the water frame the bird well...
Greetings,
Pablo -

hi Nel

beautiful shot

waves are adding interest..

good compo with nice details and good lighting

tfs
jagroopsingh

Hi dear friend,
beautiful pose for this little fellow!
Great angle of shot.
The tones and textures are looking good.
I like the water surface very much.
Have a lovely WE.
Ioana
:) soon

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