pintail

American  

[pin-teyl] / ˈpɪnˌteɪl /

noun

plural

pintails,

plural

pintail

1. a long-necked river duck, Anas acuta, of the Old and New Worlds, having long and narrow middle tail feathers.

2. sharp-tailed grouse.

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pintail British  

/ ˈpɪnˌteɪl /

noun

1. a greyish-brown duck, Anas acuta, with slender pointed wings and a pointed tail

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Etymology

Origin of pintail

First recorded in 1760–70; pin + tail ¹

Example Sentences

Northern pintail ducks are common, but their population is declining, The Cornell Lab reported.

From Washington Times • May 4, 2022

The American flamingo and the Northern pintail duck are species of “least concern,” according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

From Washington Post • May 3, 2022

As the Prairie Pothole Region goes, so goes the northern pintail.

From Slate • May 10, 2018

First last August come the iconic northern pintail, an elegant duck, with its needle tail and long, slim profile.

From National Geographic • Jul. 16, 2015

Frightful might have remained with them had not a flock of pintail ducks come down on the shore below.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George