Factfile
Where they live
Africa, east, south central and south. S. Sudan and Ethiopia south to Cape Province and west to Angola; Madagascar
Habitat
shallow water, often near temporary pools and flooded land
Size
length 43-48cm, wingspan up to 28cm
Weight
up to 600g
Lifespan
up to 20 years
Did you know...
- This duck is not migratory, but will fly great distances to find suitable waters
- It is highly gregarious outside the breeding season and forms large flocks
More about red-billed pintails...
The Red-billed pintail is found over much of Africa where it lives near shallow water. It feeds by dabbling for plant food, or foraging on land mainly in the evening or at night. It grazes on land, head dips in water and will visit fields of stubble. It will eat seeds, fruit, grains, roots and soft plant matter. Invertebrates such as molluscs, insects and crustaceans are also part of the diet.
They breed mainly in summer, usually after the main rain season, and pair bonds can last for a long time.
The male sometimes helps the female to guard the chicks. They nest on the ground, concealed among the dense waterside vegetation. The nest is little more than a depression lined with grass. The female lays between five and 12 eggs, and the incubation lasts about 25 to 28 days. The ducklings fledge some two months later.
