Eaton's Pintail
Anas eatoni
Eaton's pintail is a dabbling duck of the genus Anas. It is also known as the southern pintail.
5
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaton's_pintail
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Anseriformes
Family
Anatidae
Genus
Anas
Eaton's Pintail belongs to the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
Eaton's pintail is a dabbling duck of the genus Anas. It is also known as the southern pintail. The species is restricted to the island groups of Kerguelen and Crozet in the southern Indian Ocean. It resembles a small female northern pintail. It was named after the English explorer and naturalist Alfred Edwin Eaton. It is threatened by introduced species, particularly feral cats, which prey on it, particularly during the post-breeding molt, when it is unable to fly.
Eaton's Pintail faces significant conservation challenges due to its restricted range on remote sub-Antarctic islands where introduced predators and habitat degradation pose ongoing threats. The species' small population size and limited breeding locations make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and human disturbances. Climate change and invasive species continue to impact the fragile island ecosystems this duck depends upon.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Shallow freshwater ponds, lakes, and coastal wetlands on sub-Antarctic islands, particularly favoring areas with emergent vegetation and muddy shorelines for feeding. The species also utilizes sheltered coastal bays and estuaries during non-breeding periods.
Threats
Habitat degradation from invasive plants
Introduced predators (cats, rats, mice)
Limited breeding range vulnerability
Climate change impacts on island ecosystems
Human disturbance at breeding sites
Found in 5 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Eaton's Pintail (Anas eatoni). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/eatons-pintail