Call is a distinctive simple whistle. Similar appearance to hen mallard. Smaller than male - 21 in. Pintails are one of the first ducks to arrive in spring, in IL migrants are present from mid-Feb. Pairing begins on winter grounds, continues in migration and continues on breeding grounds, where groups of drakes may compete for a hen, or displays may include only one drake and hen.
Displays are elaborate and well described.
Both sexes usually breed at 1 yr. After egg- laying, a mated drake will chose other hens away from his mate's nest site. This serves to increase spacing between nests. Pintails are not territorial, nor are they social nesters. The Mississippi migration corridor is the eastern most flyway that winters large numbers of pintails.