NORTHERN PINTAIL

Why in News?                                                                                                        

Dozens of northern pintail, a migratory duck, and plovers have been found dead in Pulicat over the past few days. After an initial probe, the Forest Department suspects that the deaths could be due to fertilizer or pesticide ingestion.

What is Northern Pintail?

• It is named on the basis of its long central tail feathers ending.
• Nickname: “The greyhound of the skies.”
• Habitat:Northern pintails live in open wetlands.
• Nest making on the ground: They make nests on the ground, away from water.
• Distinctive Features: Black and white striped head: They have a unique appearance with a black and white striped head. They have chestnut-coloured breast.
• Diet and Foraging: Omnivores

What are Plovers?

• Plovers are wading birds.
• They are found in many places except Antarctica.
• These are water birds.
• They belong to a subfamily – Charadriinae.
• Plovers who nest in the north are migratory birds.
• They travel and feed in flocks