Fulica americana
The American Coot (Fulica americana) is a ubiquitous and distinctive waterbird, often mistaken for a duck, yet taxonomically it belongs to the rail family (Rallidae). Measuring 34-43 cm (13-17 in) in length with a wingspan of 58-71 cm (23-28 in) and weighing 427-848 g (15.1-29.9 oz), its most striking field marks are its slate-gray to black body, bright white bill, and a noticeable reddish-brown frontal shield above the bill. Its lobed, rather than webbed, feet are a unique adaptation for bot...
Found primarily in freshwater wetlands, including marshes, ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, typically with abundant emergent vegetation for cover and nesting.
Primarily herbivorous, consuming a wide range of aquatic vegetation including leaves, stems, and seeds; supplemented opportunistically with insects, small fish, tadpoles, and eggs.
American Coots are diurnal, spending much of their day foraging on the water, often in large, gregarious flocks outside the breeding season, forming impressive 'rafts' of hundreds or thousands of individuals. During the breeding season, they become highly territorial, with males engaging in aggre...
The American Coot has an expansive range across North and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean. Breeding occurs from southern Canada, including British Columbia, the Canadian Prairies, and parts of Ontario, southward through most of the continental United States, excluding the extreme sout...
Least Concern
- Despite their duck-like appearance and behavior, American Coots are actually members of the rail family (Rallidae), more closely related to gallinules and cranes than to ducks. - They possess distinctive lobed toes, not fully webbed feet, which allow them to walk easily on land and swim efficie...