American Coot

Fulica americanaOrder: GRUIFORMESFamily: Rails and Coots (Rallidae)
American Coot Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: All-purpose
  • Eye color: Brown iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown color: Black
  • Forehead color: Red, Black
  • Nape Color: Black
  • Throat color: Black
  • Cere color:
American Coot Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 38 cm (15 in)
  • Weight: 725 g (25.6 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Black, Gray
  • Underparts: Black
  • Upperparts: Black
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
American Coot Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats., Feet protrude beyond tail.
  • Wingspan Range: 58-71 cm (23-28 in)
  • Wing Shape: Broad-Wings, Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg color: Orange, Yellow
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Family Coot (Rallidae)_blue
Species Fulica americana
Length15 Inches
Wingspan25.5 Inches

American Coot

American Coot: Medium-sized, chicken-like swimming bird, dark gray to black overall, short, white bill and undertail coverts. Toes are lobed, not webbed. Upper edge of frontal shield is red, but usually only visible at close range. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats, feet protrude past tail.

● Song: "ke-yik", "k-rrk"

● Foraging & Feeding: American Coot: Feeds on plant materials, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, snails, worms, and sometimes bird eggs; forages by tipping, diving from the surface, or walking along shorelines.

● Breeding & nesting: American Coot: Two to twelve black and brown marked, pink to buff eggs are laid on a shallow platform of dead leaves and stems, usually on water but anchored to a clump of reeds. Incubation ranges from 21 to 25 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: American Coot: Common Moorhen has a red bill with a yellow tip, white stripe along the flanks, and brown back.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats., Feet protrude beyond tail.
American Coot Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: American Coot: Breeds from British Columbia, western Canada, and New York locally southward. Usually spends winters north to British Columbia, Kansas, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Preferred habitats include open ponds and marshes. Found on coastal bays and inlets, often occurring in large rafts during winter.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationCommon to abundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight25.6 Ounces