South Georgia Pintail

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South Georgia Pintail (A. g. georgica)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Anas
Species:	A. georgica
Subspecies:	A. g. georgica

Trinomial name

Anas georgica georgica

The South Georgia Pintail (Anas georgica georgica) is the nominate race of the Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgicas spinicauda). It lives solely on the outer Antarctic South Georgia Island. Alone among ducks, it is carnivorous, scavenging from seal carcasses when it can find them. This is thought to be a response to the incredibly harsh climate in the northern Antarctic islands, and the lack of readily available nutritious food.

There are estimated to be around 1000 breeding pairs of the South Georgia Pintail currently on South Georgia.

The small ducks nest in tussock grass, and when returning from feeding, usually land some distance away before creeping through the undergrowth, so as not to lead predatory birds to vulnerable chicks and eggs.