White-cheeked Pintail
NameWhite-cheeked Pintail
Common NameWhite-cheeked Pintail
Scientific NameAnas bahamensis
FamilyAnatidae
Wingspan (cm)65
Length (cm)48
Weight (g)600
Plumage DetailsThis duck has a dark brown crown and nape, contrasting sharply with bright white cheeks and throat. The bill is grey with a black tip and a prominent red patch at the base. The body plumage is mottled brown with darker centers to the feathers, giving a scaled appearance, and the undertail coverts are buff. The tail is pointed, characteristic of pintails.
Vocalization / CallMales produce soft, whistling calls, while females have a low, reedy quack.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland, coastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Caribbean, northern South America, and the Galápagos Islands, inhabiting freshwater and brackish wetlands, lagoons, and estuaries.
Identifying Featureswhite cheeks, red patch at bill base, grey bill with black tip, mottled brown body plumage, pointed tail
Description
The White-cheeked Pintail is a medium-sized dabbling duck characterized by its distinctive white cheeks and a bright red patch at the base of its bill. It typically forages in shallow waters, often tipping its body to feed on submerged vegetation and invertebrates.
