Eurasian Coot

Fulica atraOrder: GRUIFORMESFamily: Rails and Coots (Rallidae)
Eurasian Coot Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: All-purpose
  • Eye color: Brown iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown color: Black
  • Forehead color: White
  • Nape Color: Glossy black
  • Throat color: Black
  • Cere color:
Eurasian Coot Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 35-41 cm (14-16.5 in)
  • Weight: 736-793 g (26-28 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Black
  • Underparts: Black
  • Upperparts: Black
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Eurasian Coot Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Flight is awkward and lumbering with long splashing run across water to take off.
  • Wingspan Range: 70-80 cm (27.6-31.5 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Rounded Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg color: Gray, Yellow
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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