The Northern Pintail is found across Canada, with its core breeding range located in the Prairie Pothole Region of western Canada. Population fluctuations are closely correlated with precipitation levels in the Prairies: periods of extended drought have led to dramatic population declines. Since 1990, the population has been undergoing cyclic increases and decreases, but it still remains below its population objective. In Canada, the Northern Pintail harvest has remained relatively stable since 1990. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The expansion of agriculture and changes in farming practices likely contribute to the disappearance of potential breeding habitats (Podruzny et al. 2002). Northern Pintails are early nesters compared to the other duck species and their nest might be more vulnerable to spring seeding activities, leading to reduced nest success and overall productivity (Podruzny et al. 2002). In Canada, the pintail harvest has decreased by approximately 70–80% since the 1980s. This decline is consistent with the decrease in abundance observed for the population, as well as in the number of hunters.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
