White-cheeked Pintail

Brown-spotted buff body, distinctive white cheeks and neck sides, deep red base on the bill with a blue-grey tip, and bright red eyes. Sexes look very similar, though males are slightly larger.

White cheeks, red and grey bill, spotted brown flanks, and a pointed tail.

Length: 38-51 cm, Wingspan: approx. 65-80 cm, Weight: 400-600 g

Quiet whistles and soft quacks; males give a soft, high-pitched whistle, while females emit a low rasping quack.

Mainly vegetarian, feeding on seeds of aquatic plants, grasses, and algae, supplemented by small aquatic invertebrates.

Coastal wetlands, brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps, and occasionally freshwater ponds.

Mostly resident, though some populations show local seasonal movements related to rainfall.

Nests on the ground hidden in dense vegetation near water. Clutch size is 6-10 eggs, incubated by the female.

White-faced Whistling Duck or Northern Pintail, but the White-cheeked Pintail is instantly distinguished by its unique bright red-based bill and stark white cheeks.

Acts as an important seed disperser for aquatic plants and helps maintain wetland biodiversity.

Least Concern, with a stable population trend

Look for them in coastal lagoons, brackish marshes, and mangrove swamps, often in small groups or pairs.

Also known as the Bahama Pintail, these ducks are remarkably comfortable in brackish and saltwater habitats compared to many other dabbling ducks.