White-cheeked pintail
Scientific name: Anas bahamensis
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Males display a distinctive chestnut head with white cheeks and throat, a long slender neck, and grey body plumage; females are duller brown overall. Both sexes show a characteristic long, slender profile and pointed tail feathers.
Size and weight
Males 43–48 cm, females 38–42 cm; males weigh 340–450 g, females 280–380 g.
Habitat
White-cheeked pintails inhabit shallow coastal and inland wetlands, brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps, and freshwater marshes. They favor open water with emergent vegetation and mudflats.
Distribution
Found throughout the Caribbean, South America (from Colombia to Argentina), and the Galápagos Islands, favoring shallow wetland complexes in warm lowland regions.
Diet
They feed primarily on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates by dabbling in shallow water and upending, with increased animal matter during breeding season.
Behaviour
Primarily diurnal and crepuscular feeders, they are highly social and often found in pairs or small flocks; they are swift fliers with erratic, agile flight patterns.
Hunting tips
Glass open water and marsh edges at dawn and dusk when birds move between roosting and feeding areas. Approach from downwind across open water or through marsh cover, moving slowly during feeding periods. Use decoys on open water and remain concealed; these birds are wary and flush readily, so precision positioning is critical.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 3 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.