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This is a common migrant mainly to the northern dry lowlands of the country. It is a species with a wide geographic distribution and breeds in the northern areas of Eurasia south to Poland & Mongolia. It also breeds in Canada, Alaska and the Midwestern United States. Each population moves south of its breeding range during winter and reach up to Panama, sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South Asia.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (IUCN Red List).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have encountered large flocks of Pintail in Mannar and Jaffna peninsula numbering 80 to 90 thousand birds. The largest flock I have seen in the south was 15 thousand birds at Bundala National park in December 2002. It is a regular visitor to the Nawadankulama and Anawilundawa tanks on the northwest. I have also seen it in the east from Kumana National park up to Trincomalee and Chundikulam.

This is not a common species at Wilpattu and my first sighting of this species was in January 2017 at Panikkar Villu.