Why in News? 

A group of rare northern pintail ducks was recently observed at an extraordinary altitude of 13,500 feet in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. 

About  

The Northern Pintail Duck (Anas acuta) is an elegant migratory waterfowl, admired for its distinctive appearance and intriguing behavior. 

Distribution 

Often called "northern nomads," these ducks follow vast migratory routes and are found on every continent except Antarctica. However, they typically avoid living or breeding south of the equator. 

Key Features 

• Named for their long, pointed central tail feathers. 
• Males have a buff-gray body, a rich chocolate-brown head, a bold white stripe on the chest, and black markings on the back. 
• Females and non-breeding males display a mottled brown plumage with a lighter chest and neck. 
• They can grow over 60 cm in length, weigh more than 1 kg, and boast a wingspan of up to 91 cm. 
• Their streamlined bodies allow them to fly at impressive speeds of up to 48 mph. 
• In the wild, they can live up to 22 years.  
• Listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.