Yellow-billed Pintail

The Yellow-billed Pintail is a dabbling duck found in Ecuador’s highland wetlands and freshwater marshes, particularly in the inter-Andean valleys and paramo regions above 2,000 meters. It occurs year-round in small flocks, feeding on aquatic vegetation and invertebrates in shallow ponds, irrigation canals, and flooded fields. Despite localized habitat pressures, it is globally listed as Least Concern due to its broad South American range and stable population trend. Adapted to high-altitude environments, this species exhibits physiological traits that enhance oxygen uptake, and it nests on the ground near water, producing precocial young that quickly follow adults into foraging areas.