Talk:Northern pintail

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Northern pintail is a featured article; it (or a previous version of it) has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Wikipedia community. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so.

This article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page as Today's featured article on October 16, 2012.

Article milestones
Date	Process	Result
January 18, 2008	Good article nominee	Listed
January 23, 2008	Featured article candidate	Promoted

Current status: Featured article

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Breeding male

The article says "The breeding male is unmistakable." but it doesn't describe how the male is unmistakable. Please describe the physical characteristics of the breeding male. --psyphyre 00:15, Aug 26, 2004 (UTC)

So what about dafila acuta? Peter Scott would be disappointed at its omission JMcC 09:29, 20 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Copyedit Review Notes

I just gave the article a copyedit, and while I won't review it for GA, I have a few sentences and such that I thought could be clarified:

The first sentence of the second paragraph of the lead needs to be rewritten.

Under Description, next to last paragraph, could you elaborate on "with slightly swept-back wings"?

Third paragraph of Threats, should you clarify what quarry species means for us non-hunting folks?

And in Taxonomy, what precisely is Stephens 1824? I don't see it referenced again in the article.

Other than this, I think it looks pretty good. Obviously, go over my copyediting to make sure I didn't accidentaly change the meaning of something. Rufous-crowned Sparrow (talk) 03:58, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, all makes sense, Jimfbleak (talk) 06:32, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Looks good to me now. Rufous-crowned Sparrow (talk) 17:20, 17 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Good Article review

GA review (see here for criteria)

It is reasonably well written.
a (prose): b (MoS):
It is factually accurate and verifiable.
a (references): b (citations to reliable sources): c (OR):
It is broad in its coverage.
a (major aspects): b (focused):
I did notice that you chose not to include a section of cultural significance this time, but it's certainly not a sufficient reason to claim the article is lacking broadness. Some people dislike them anyway.
It follows the neutral point of view policy.
Fair representation without bias:
It is stable.
No edit wars etc.:
It is illustrated by images, where possible and appropriate.
a (images are tagged and non-free images have fair use rationales): b (appropriate use with suitable captions):
Overall:
Pass/Fail:
You bird folks are getting too good, I hardly have anything to complain about ;). I made some structural and image adjustments myself quickly, but the prose and referencing definitely meets GA standards. Congratulations! VanTucky 00:15, 18 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

consistency

The use of in in. and inches is inconsistent. Same comment for other abbreviations of units. Randomblue (talk) 19:23, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

fixed Jimfbleak (talk) 20:00, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Extinct subspecies?

Is the subspecies mentioned here valid? http://extinct-website.com/extinct-website/product_info.php?products_id=1111 FunkMonk (talk) 22:40, 6 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It appears not, but I've added a sentence anyway Jimfbleak - talk to me? 05:49, 7 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Comment

The following sentence is not entirely clear: "In the Palaearctic, breeding populations are declining in much of the range, including its stronghold in Russia, and are otherwise stable or fluctuating." Does "otherwise" mean: "in other regions"?. Suggested revision: "In the Palaearctic, breeding populations are declining in much of the range, including its stronghold in Russia. In other regions, populations are stable or fluctuating."

Move discussion in progress

There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Mottled Duck which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RMCD bot 14:00, 10 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified

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Featured picture scheduled for POTD

Hello! This is to let editors know that File:Male northern pintail at Llano Seco.jpg, a featured picture used in this article, has been selected as the English Wikipedia's picture of the day (POTD) for October 26, 2023. A preview of the POTD is displayed below and can be edited at Template:POTD/2023-10-26. For the greater benefit of readers, any potential improvements or maintenance that could benefit the quality of this article should be done before its scheduled appearance on the Main Page. If you have any concerns, please place a message at Wikipedia talk:Picture of the day. Thank you! — Amakuru (talk) 10:56, 23 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

The northern pintail (Anas acuta) is a duck with a wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator. Unusual for a bird with such a large range, it has no geographical subspecies if the possibly conspecific Eaton's pintail is considered to be a separate species. It is a fairly large duck, with a long pointed tail that gives rise to the species's English and scientific names. The northern pintail's common name describes the male's two long black tail feathers, which in flight look like a single pin or twig. Hens make a coarse quack and the drakes a flute-like whistle. It is a bird of open wetlands, nesting on the ground and often at some distance from water. It feeds by dabbling for plant food and adds small invertebrates to its diet during the nesting season. When not breeding, it is highly gregarious, forming large mixed flocks with other species of duck. This male northern pintail was photographed at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex in northern California.

Photograph credit: Frank Schulenburg

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Other languages

The Finnish language article "Jouhisorsa" about this critter points to this one in the other languages popup menu. But not the other way around. Unless I am very blind today. 85.76.110.27 (talk) 14:01, 18 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]