Urban species #005: Northern Pintail

urban species #005: Northern Pintail Anas acuta

Over 200 migratory bird species are known to spend at least some time in Boston, and a similar number can be cited for any city that lays along a migration route, and has the good fortune of containing decent habitat. Bodies of water in northern cities are less likely to freeze in the wintertime, due to the bubble of asphalt and air pollution that envelop a typical urban area. For migratory ducks, urban ponds are welcome way stations.

This is the first pair of Northern Pintails I have seen, but the pond they float on (Leverett Pond, a widening of the Muddy River) hosts dozens of migratory bird species--ducks in winter and songbirds in spring and summer--that will no doubt appear on this list as the year continues.

Pintails are widespread but uncommon throughout their range. This wasn't always so; up until the middle of the nineteenth century they were considered common, but they were hunted into relative scarcity.

Photos by cottonmanifesto

( Another nice shot )