Fulica leucoptera
The White-winged Coot (Fulica leucoptera) is a medium-sized, strikingly plumaged aquatic bird native to the Southern Cone of South America, measuring 39-43 cm in length and weighing between 600-800 grams. Its overall plumage is a dark slate-gray, with a blacker head and neck, contrasting sharply with its most distinctive field mark: a prominent white patch on the primaries, clearly visible in flight or when the wings are stretched. Other key identification features include bright white undert...
Found in freshwater wetlands, including lakes, ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers, from sea level up to 4500 meters in the high Andes.
Primarily herbivorous, consuming aquatic vegetation (leaves, stems, and seeds), supplemented with aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and mollusks.
White-winged Coots are primarily diurnal, spending their days foraging and interacting on open water or along shorelines, often congregating in large, mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season. They forage by diving to pluck aquatic vegetation from the bottom, dabbling at the surface, or g...
The White-winged Coot is broadly distributed across the Southern Cone of South America, primarily resident throughout Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). Its range also extends into Bolivia, encompassing both eastern lowlands and Andean highlands, with ve...
Least Concern
- Its scientific name, *leucoptera*, is derived from Greek, meaning "white-winged," aptly describing its most distinguishing feature. - Unlike ducks, coots possess lobed toes rather than webbed feet, which allows them to walk more easily on land while still providing propulsion in water. - White-...