Photo: Jason Crotty / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-cheeked Pintail
Anas bahamensis
White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America and South America. Adults weigh 490 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Anas
- Species bahamensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 490 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-cheeked Pintail feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The White-cheeked Pintail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across North America and South America. Its distribution covers SA, NA widespread in South America and Caribbean.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 490 g, with a wing length of about 20.6 cm and a tail of around 8.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-cheeked Pintail?
The White-cheeked Pintail is a large bird that weighs around 490 g.
Where does the White-cheeked Pintail live?
The White-cheeked Pintail is found across North America and South America with a range covering SA, NA widespread in South America and Caribbean, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-cheeked Pintail belong to?
The White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the White-cheeked Pintail eat?
The White-cheeked Pintail feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the White-cheeked Pintail migrate?
The White-cheeked Pintail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the White-cheeked Pintail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-cheeked Pintail make?
1 real field recording of the White-cheeked Pintail — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-cheeked Pintail's range?
The White-cheeked Pintail has a mapped global range of about 3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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