View the American Coot photography of Bruce Dayton

American Coot
[Fulica americana]

All black
Swims and dives
White bill with black mark near tip
Bill triangular like a chicken's, not flat like a duck's
White stripe on sides of undertail
Sexes alike

Syllables: A-mer-i-can Coot
Pronunciation: E meh rih kEn kut



American Coot
1-1	AmCt_08x10_008943	8x10 Print	$10.00
1-2	AmCt_11x14_008943	11x14 Print	$25.00


American Coot
2-1	AmCt_08x10_008947	8x10 Print	$10.00
2-2	AmCt_11x14_008947	11x14 Print	$25.00


American Coot
3-1	AmCt_08x10_008948	8x10 Print	$10.00
3-2	AmCt_11x14_008948	11x14 Print	$25.00


American Coot
4-1	AmCt_08x10_008984	8x10 Print	$10.00
4-2	AmCt_11x14_008984	11x14 Print	$25.00


American Coot
5-1	AmCt_08x10_010750	8x10 Print	$10.00
5-2	AmCt_11x14_010750	11x14 Print	$25.00
5-3	AmCt_16x20_010750	16x20 Print	$50.00

NOTES

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The American Coot (Fulica americana)
is a large water bird, of the family Rallidae.

Adults have a short thick white bill with a reddish-brown spot near the base of the bill between the eyes. The body is gray with the head and neck darker than the rest of the body. Their legs are yellowish, with scalloped toes rather than webbed feet.

Their breeding habitat is marshes from southern Quebec to the Pacific coast of North America and as far south as northern South America. They nest in a well-concealed location in tall reeds. They are frequently seen swimming in open water.

They migrate from northern locations to the southern United States and southern British Columbia. They are often year-round residents where water remains open in winter.

These birds can dive for food but can also forage on land. They are omnivores, eating plant material, insects, fish, and other aquatic animals.

Their call is a high-pitched squeaking honk somewhat like a goose's but more hollow sounding.

These chunky birds require a great deal of effort to become airborne, pedaling across the water with their feet before lifting off. The way in which their heads bob when they walk or swim has earned them the name "mud hen".

Although coots look like weak fliers, this species has crossed the Atlantic to reach western Europe at least 23 times, including 12 records in the Azores and four in Great Britain. In December 2003, an individual of this species attempted to over winter in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

Category: Coots

American Coot

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:   Chordata
Class:   Aves
Order:   Gruiformes
Family:   Rallidae
Genus:   Fulica
Species:  F. americana

Binomial name
Fulica americana Gmelin