They travel in loose flocks with some pairing evident. Wingbeat is stiff and not very rapid. Their long neck and tail and greenish-brown speculum are distinctive features. Drakes have a chocolate-colored head, white belly, and long, black tail. Drakes whistle, and hens call with a series of quacks.
Pintails are graceful fliers that are capable of high speeds.
They have a green speculum. Both hens and drakes have an extensive white patch in front of the speculum. The bright white forewing, white belly, and white forehead are good distinguishing features of drakes. Drakes whistle, and hens call with a series of low quacks. Wigeons travel in small flocks, flying fast and irregularly, often with many twists and turns.