Fulica alai
The Hawaiian Coot, or `ʻAlae kea` as it's known in Hawaiian, is a medium-sized waterbird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, measuring 33-40 cm in length and weighing 400-600g. Its plumage is uniformly dark sooty grey to black, strikingly contrasted by a bright white undertail patch. The most distinctive field mark is its prominent, rounded, pure white frontal shield, which often sports two small, fleshy, reddish-brown knobs at the top, a unique feature among coots. The bill is bluish-white with...
Primarily found in freshwater wetlands, including natural marshes, taro (kalo) patches, artificial ponds, reservoirs, and slow-moving streams, typically from sea level up to 1,000 meters elevation.
Omnivorous, their diet consists mainly of aquatic vegetation (including seeds, leaves, and stems) and a variety of aquatic invertebrates such as insects, snails, and small crustaceans, occasionally supplemented with small fish or tadpoles.
Hawaiian Coots are largely diurnal, though they may forage during crepuscular hours, often roosting in dense shoreline vegetation or on small emergent islands. Their primary foraging strategy involves swimming, dabbling, and diving for submerged vegetation and aquatic invertebrates, often pecking...
The Hawaiian Coot is endemic to the main Hawaiian Islands, where it maintains resident populations on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi (the Big Island). This species is non-migratory, with individuals typically remaining within their local wetland systems throughout the year. Historical...
Endangered
- The Hawaiian name `ʻAlae kea` means "white-fronted mudhen," directly referencing its most distinctive feature. - In Hawaiian mythology, the `ʻAlae kea` is credited with bringing fire to mankind, often associated with the demigod Māui. - Unlike most coots, the Hawaiian Coot possesses unique redd...