Eurasian Coot

Fulica atraOrder: GRUIFORMESFamily: Rails and Coots (Rallidae)

Breeding Location:



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:



Egg Color:

Buff to gray with white spots



Number of Eggs:

2 - 12



Incubation Days:

21 - 24



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Stems, leaves.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Eurasian Coot: Medium, squat marsh bird, all black with white bill, frontal shield. Eye-rings are red, legs are yellow-gray. Feeds on aquatic plants, insects, amphibians, mollusks and small fish. Agressive towards other water birds. Swift direct flight on rapid wing beats, feet protrude beyond tail.

Range and Habitat

Eurasian Coot: Found in slow moving fresh or coastal waters. Very rarely appears in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska, Newfoundland, Labrador.

Breeding and Nesting

Eurasian Coot: Nesting territories in ponds and marshes vigorously defended against other coots. Male brings plant stems and leaves to female who builds bulky floating nest amid marsh vegetation. Lays two to twelve white spotted, buff to gray eggs that both parents incubate for 21 to 24 days. Both parents care for young, but may split up brood and care for them separately. Young fly when 60 days old.

Foraging and Feeding

Eurasian Coot: Paddles casually in slow moving waters, pecking at bits of vegetation, seeds, and insects, Will dive for clams and other invertebrates. Regularly comes ashore to feed on grasses and seeds on land.

Readily Eats

Vocalization

Eurasian Coot: Loud quarrelous "kowk."

Similar Species

Eurasian Coot: American Coot has white undertail coverts and red marks on bill.

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Family
Species Fulica atra
Length14 - 16.5 Inches
Wingspan29 Inches

Eurasian Coot

Eurasian Coot: Medium, squat marsh bird, all black with white bill, frontal shield. Eye-rings are red, legs are yellow-gray. Feeds on aquatic plants, insects, amphibians, mollusks and small fish. Agressive towards other water birds. Swift direct flight on rapid wing beats, feet protrude beyond tail.

● Song: "kowk"

● Foraging & Feeding: Eurasian Coot: Paddles casually in slow moving waters, pecking at bits of vegetation, seeds, and insects, Will dive for clams and other invertebrates. Regularly comes ashore to feed on grasses and seeds on land.

● Breeding & nesting: Eurasian Coot: Nesting territories in ponds and marshes vigorously defended against other coots. Male brings plant stems and leaves to female who builds bulky floating nest amid marsh vegetation. Lays two to twelve white spotted, buff to gray eggs that both parents incubate for 21 to 24 days. Both parents care for young, but may split up brood and care for them separately. Young fly when 60 days old.

● Similar species: Eurasian Coot: American Coot has white undertail coverts and red marks on bill.

Flight Pattern

Flight is awkward and lumbering with long splashing run across water to take off.
Eurasian Coot Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Eurasian Coot: Found in slow moving fresh or coastal waters. Very rarely appears in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska, Newfoundland, Labrador.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight26 - 28 Ounces