LC
Northern Pintail Anas acuta



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
SACC. 2005 and updates. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2019 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2013 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 41,900,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 160,000,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 4700000-4800000 mature individuals poor estimated 2012
Population trend decreasing - suspected -
Generation length 6.8 years - - -

Population justification: The population is estimated to number 7,100,000-7,200,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). This roughly equates to 4,700,000-4,800,000 mature individuals. The European population is estimated at 210,000-269,000 pairs, which equates to 419,000-539,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall population trend is decreasing, although some populations may be stable and others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). In North America, the species has undergone a large and statistically significant decrease over the last 40 years (77.3% decline over 40 years, equating to a 31% decline per decade; data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count [Butcher and Niven 2007]), and in 2015 the population was estimated to be 24% below the 1955-2014 long-term average (Zimpfer et al. 2015). In Europe, the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 20.4 years (three generations) (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native yes
Anguilla (to UK) extant native yes
Antigua and Barbuda extant vagrant yes
Armenia extant native yes
Aruba (to Netherlands) extant vagrant yes
Australia extant vagrant
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bahamas extant native yes
Bahrain extant native yes
Bangladesh extant native yes
Barbados extant native yes
Belarus extant native yes
Belgium extant native yes
Belize extant native yes
Benin extant native yes
Bermuda (to UK) extant native
Bhutan extant native
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native yes
Botswana extant vagrant
Brazil extant vagrant
Brunei extant vagrant
Bulgaria extant native yes yes
Burkina Faso extant native
Burundi extant native
Cambodia extant native
Cameroon extant native
Canada extant native yes yes
Cayman Islands (to UK) extant native
Central African Republic extant native
Chad extant native
China (mainland) extant native
Colombia extant native
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native
Cook Islands extant vagrant
Costa Rica extant native yes
Côte d'Ivoire extant vagrant
Croatia extant native yes
Cuba extant native
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant native yes yes
Djibouti extant native
Dominica extant native
Dominican Republic extant native
Egypt extant native
El Salvador extant native
Eritrea extant native
Estonia extant native yes yes
Ethiopia extant native
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant native yes
Finland extant native yes yes
France extant native yes yes
French Polynesia extant vagrant
Gabon extant vagrant
Gambia extant native
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Ghana extant native
Greece extant native yes yes
Greenland (to Denmark) extant native yes
Guadeloupe (to France) extant vagrant yes
Guam (to USA) extant native yes
Guatemala extant native
Guinea extant native
Guinea-Bissau extant native
Guyana extant native
Haiti extant native
Honduras extant native
Hong Kong (China) extant native
Hungary extant native yes yes
Iceland extant native yes
India extant native
Indonesia extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes yes
Iraq extant native yes yes
Ireland extant native yes
Israel extant native
Italy extant native yes yes
Jamaica extant vagrant
Japan extant native
Jordan extant native yes yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native
Kiribati extant native
Kuwait extant native yes yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Laos extant native
Latvia extant native yes yes
Lebanon extant native yes yes
Liberia extant native
Libya extant native
Liechtenstein extant native
Lithuania extant native yes yes
Luxembourg extant native
Malawi extant vagrant
Malaysia extant native
Maldives extant vagrant
Mali extant native
Malta extant native
Marshall Islands extant native yes
Martinique (to France) extant native
Mauritania extant native
Mexico extant native
Micronesia, Federated States of extant native yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes
Montserrat (to UK) extant native
Morocco extant native
Myanmar extant native
Nepal extant native
Netherlands extant native yes
Nicaragua extant native
Niger extant native
Nigeria extant native
North Korea extant native
North Macedonia extant native yes
Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) extant native yes
Norway extant native yes yes
Oman extant native yes yes
Pakistan extant native
Palau extant native yes
Palestine extant native yes yes
Panama extant native
Papua New Guinea extant vagrant
Philippines extant native yes
Poland extant native yes yes
Portugal extant native yes
Puerto Rico (to USA) extant native
Qatar extant native yes
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes yes
Russia (European) extant native yes yes
Rwanda extant native
Saudi Arabia extant native yes yes
Senegal extant native
Serbia extant native yes
Seychelles extant vagrant
Sierra Leone extant native
Singapore extant native
Slovakia extant native yes
Slovenia extant native yes
Somalia extant native
South Africa extant native
South Korea extant native
South Sudan extant native yes
Spain extant native yes
Sri Lanka extant native
St Barthelemy (to France) extant native yes
St Kitts and Nevis extant native
St Lucia extant native
St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) extant native yes yes
St Vincent and the Grenadines extant native
Sudan extant native
Suriname extant native
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) extant native yes
Sweden extant native yes yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant native yes yes
Taiwan, China extant native
Tajikistan extant native
Tanzania extant native
Thailand extant native
Togo extant native
Tonga extant vagrant
Trinidad and Tobago extant vagrant
Tunisia extant native yes
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) extant native
Uganda extant native
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes
United Kingdom extant native yes
United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) extant native yes
USA extant native yes
Uzbekistan extant native
Venezuela extant native
Vietnam extant native
Virgin Islands (to UK) extant native yes
Virgin Islands (to USA) extant native yes
Western Sahara extant native
Yemen extant native yes yes
Zambia extant native
Zimbabwe extant native

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Afghanistan Hamun-i-Puzak
Algeria Barrage de la Cheffia
Azerbaijan Aggyol
Azerbaijan Gizilagach
Azerbaijan Lake Sarysu
Bangladesh Aila Beel
Bangladesh Hakaluki Haor
Bangladesh Jamuna-Brahmaputra river
Bangladesh Muhuri Dam
Bangladesh Tanguar Haor and Panabeel
Belgium Durme en Middenloop van de Schelde
Belgium IJzervallei-De Blankaart
Cameroon Lake Maga
Canada Queen Maud Gulf
Chad Lake Chad
Chad Lake Fitri
China (mainland) Qinghai Hu (Koko Nor)
China (mainland) Xingkai Hu Nature Reserve
Denmark Fanø
Denmark Fiilsø
Denmark Rømø
Denmark Tøndermarsken, Magisterkog and Rudbøl Sø
Denmark Vadehavet (Wadden Sea)
Estonia Lahemaa
Estonia Pärnu bay (NEW)
Estonia Väinameri
Finland Oulu region wetlands
Finland Pori archipelago and wetlands
France Baie de Saint-Brieuc
France Baie de Vilaine
France Baie des Veys et Marais du Cotentin
France Basses Vallées Angevines
France Bassin d'Arcachon et Banc d'Arguin
France Cap Gris-nez
France Domaine d'Orx
France Estuaire de la Loire
France Estuaire et embouchure de la Seine
France Estuaires picards : baies de Somme et d'Authie
France Golfe du Morbihan et Etier de Penerf
France Ile d'Oléron, marais de Brouage-Saint-Agnant
France La Dombes
France Lac de Grand-Lieu
France Marais de Brière
France Marais de Mazerolles-Petit Mars
France Marais et forêt d'Olonne
France Traicts et marais salants de la Presqu'île Guérandaise
France Vallée de l'Aisne
Germany Coast and lagoons of Western Pomerania
Germany Elbe marshes between Stade and Otterndorf
Germany Greifswalder Bodden
Germany Hauke-Haien Koog
Germany Lower Elbe valley
Germany Lower Havel - Lake Schollene - Lake Gülpe
Germany Lower Oder valley
Germany Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Peenetal (Peenetalmoor and Anklamer Stadtbruch)
Germany Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (includes the Halligs, Kniepsand/Amrum, Lister Koog, Rantumbecken, Rickelsb
Germany Untersee of Lake Constance
Germany Usedom lagoon (Peenestrom, Achterwasser, Kleines Haff with Neuwarper See)
Greece Amvrakikos gulf
India Kanjli Lake
India Krishnarajasagar Reservoir
India Nalabana Bird Sanctuary (Chilika Lake)
India Patna Bird Sanctuary
India Saman Bird Sanctuary
Iran, Islamic Republic of Anzali Mordab complex
Iran, Islamic Republic of Arjan Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Dorudsan dam
Iran, Islamic Republic of Fereidoonkenar marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gavekhoni lake, and marshes of the lower Zaindeh Rud
Iran, Islamic Republic of Ghara Gheshlaq No-Hunting Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gomishan marshes and Turkoman steppes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamoun-i Sabari and Hamoun-i Hirmand
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hilleh Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Izeh and Sheikho lakes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Kaftar lake
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Iran, Islamic Republic of Seyed Mohalli, Zarin Kola and Larim Sara
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes
Japan Abukuma river
Japan Izunuma and nearby lakes
Japan Lake Hyoko
Japan Lakes Komuke and Shibunotsunai
Japan Mawarizeki and Sunazawa reservoir
Japan Mogamigawa estuary
Japan Otomonuma reservoir
Kazakhstan Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve
Kazakhstan Koybagar-Tyuntyugur Lake System
Kazakhstan Kulykol-Taldykol Lake System
Kazakhstan Naurzum State Nature Reserve
Kazakhstan Shoshkaly Lake System
Kazakhstan Sorbulak Lake System
Kazakhstan Tuzashchy and Karasor Lakes
Kazakhstan Zhumay-Mayshukyr Lake System
Kyrgyzstan Eastern Issyk Kul Lake
Kyrgyzstan Tulek Valley
Latvia Lubans and fish-ponds
Latvia Svete lower reaches
Lithuania Nemunas delta regional Park
Lithuania The northern part of the Curonian Lagoon
Mali Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo
Mali Lac Faguibine
Mali Lac Horo
Mali Séri
Mauritania Aftout Es Sâheli
Mauritania Lac d'Aleg
Mauritania Lac de Mâl
Mauritania Rkîz
Mauritania Tâmourt en Na'âj
Mexico Babícora
Mongolia Khar Us Lake
Mongolia Uvsiin Khar Lake
Netherlands Delta Coast
Netherlands Haringvliet
Netherlands Krammer-Volkerak
Netherlands Lake IJsselmeer
Netherlands Lauwersmeer
Netherlands Oosterschelde
Netherlands Veluwerandmeren
Netherlands Wadden Sea
Netherlands Westerschelde & Saeftinghe
Niger Chiya wetland
Nigeria Hadejia-Nguru wetlands
Pakistan Pugri Lake
Pakistan Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary
Pakistan Rasool Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary
Philippines Candaba swamp
Poland Biebrza river valley
Poland Lower Odra river valley
Russia (Asian) Bolon' lake
Russia (Asian) Chelomdzha valley and Kava-Chelomdzha interfluve
Russia (Asian) Forty Islands
Russia (Asian) Kharchinskoye lake
Russia (Asian) Kolyma delta
Russia (Asian) Kolyma-Alazeya lowland
Russia (Asian) Korfa Gulf (northern part)
Russia (Asian) Kronotskiy Gulf
Russia (Asian) Parapol'skiy valley
Russia (Asian) Zhupanovskiy lagoon
Russia (Central Asian) Basins of the Schuchya and Khadytayakha rivers
Russia (Central Asian) Dvuob'ye
Russia (Central Asian) Lower Ob'
Russia (Central Asian) Upper and Middle Yuribey
Russia (Central Asian) Upper streams of Ob' river
Russia (Central Asian) Valley of headwaters of the river Schuchya
Russia (European) Flood-plain of Algashka river (Kirsko-Algashinskaya)
Russia (European) Kizlyar Bay
Russia (European) Petrocrepost' Bay
Russia (European) River Chernaya
Russia (European) Russki Zavorot Peninsula and eastern part of Malozemelskaya Tundra
Russia (European) Torna-Shoina watershed
Senegal Djoudj wetlands
South Korea Cheonsu Bay
South Korea Upo swamp
Spain Guadalquivir marshes
Sweden Lake Hornborga
Tunisia Sebkhet Kelbia
Ukraine Syvash Bay
United Kingdom Burry Inlet
United Kingdom Dee Estuary
United Kingdom Duddon Estuary
United Kingdom Loch of Isbister
United Kingdom Martin Mere
United Kingdom Medway Estuary and Marshes
United Kingdom Mid-Essex Coast
United Kingdom Mill Dam, Shapinsay
United Kingdom Morecambe Bay
United Kingdom Nene Washes
United Kingdom North Norfolk Coast
United Kingdom Ouse Washes
United Kingdom Pagham Harbour
United Kingdom Ribble and Alt Estuaries
United Kingdom Severn Estuary
United Kingdom Somerset Levels and Moors
United Kingdom The Swale
United Kingdom The Wash
United Kingdom Upper Solway Flats and Marshes
USA Active Delta (Mississippi River Birdsfoot Delta)
USA Atchafalaya Delta
USA Catahoula-Dewey Wills-Three Rivers
USA Lake Mattamuskeet - Swan Quarter

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) major non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) major breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture subsistence, national
Sport hunting/specimen collecting subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Northern Pintail Anas acuta. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/northern-pintail-anas-acuta on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.