Click to Enlarge

Pintail Reflections This charcoal sketch of a pair of Pintails was done shortly after I completed Pintail Drake. Both sketches focus on the unique shape of these ducks and the water reflections as they glide along. The Northern Pintail, Anas acuta, is a fairly large duck with a wingspan of 9.3-11.1 in. The male is considerably larger than the female. Pintails feed by dabbling and upending in shallow water for plant food mainly in the evening or at night so spend much of the day resting. Their long neck enables them to take food items from the bottom of water bodies up to a foot deep, beyond the reach of most other dabbling ducks. Both sexes reach sexual maturity at one year of age. The male courts the female by swimming close to her with his head lowered and tail raised, continually whistling. Breeding takes place between April and June, with a ground nest lined with plant material and down hidden amongst vegetation in a dry location, often some distance from water. The female lays seven to nine cream-colored eggs at the rate of one per day. If predators destroy the first clutch, the female can produce a replacement clutch as late as the end of July. The hen alone incubates the eggs for 22 to 24 days before they hatch, after which the female leads the downy chicks to the nearest body of water, where they feed on dead insects on the water surface. The framed original sketch is in a private collection but limited edition prints and note cards are available. Click here for availability and price.