The adult male Northern Pintail measures 23 to 30 inches (58.5 to 76 centimeters) in length and weighs between 1 and 3 pounds (454 to 1362 grams). Adult females are slightly smaller, measuring 20 to 25 inches (51 to 63.5 centimeters) and weighing 1 to 2.5 pounds (454 to 1135 grams). Males are characterized by a dark brown head, a white breast, and a distinctive white streak that extends up the side of their head. Their backs and bellies are adorned with black and white speckled feathers, and there is a yellow patch of feathers just above and behind their feet. Males also have a long, slender tail feather that can reach up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length, tapering to a sharp point, which is the origin of their name. Females, on the other hand, have more subdued gray feathers for camouflage while nesting, and their pin tail feather is only about one-quarter the length of the male’s. These ducks feature bluish-gray bills and have longer necks compared to most other dabbling ducks, allowing them to feed effectively in deeper water. Immature pintails are 21 to 27 inches (53 to 68.5 centimeters) long and weigh between 1 and 3 pounds (454 to 1362 grams). Their feathers are buff-colored, their bills are dark, and their heads range from dark brown to tan. Their bellies are speckled with white and brown, their tail feathers are dark with cream-colored edges, and their feet are grayish-green.