American Coot

Fulica americana

The American Coot is a fun bird that loves to swim and dive in the water! With its round body and funny feet, it can be seen in lakes and ponds, making it a great friend for nature explorers.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The American Coot has a plump, slate-gray body with a distinctive white bill and a small, dark red frontal shield on its forehead. Its feet are greenish-yellow with large, lobed toes, making it look unique compared to ducks.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderGruiformesFamilyRallidaeGenusFulica

American Coot

Interesting facts

A group of coots is sometimes called a 'cover' or 'raft' when on water.

Baby coots have bright orange and red feathers on their heads that disappear as they grow up!

Despite looking like a duck, the American Coot is actually part of the rail family.

When taking flight, coots 'run' across the water's surface to gain enough speed.

Special abilities

American Coots have unique lobed toes, not fully webbed, that help them paddle powerfully in water and walk easily on land.

American Coots can dive underwater for up to 30 seconds to forage for plants and small aquatic animals.

American Coots build clever floating nests anchored to plants, which helps protect their eggs from rising water.

Measurements & details

Length: 34-43 cm
Wingspan: 58-71 cm
Weight: 0.45-0.8 kg
Lifespan: 3-9 years
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Clutch Size: 6-12
Incubation: 21-25 days
Migration Distance: 4000 km

Diet & Feeding

The American Coot is an omnivore, eating a mix of plants and small creatures found in the water.

Primary Foods

aquatic plants
seeds
algae
insects
tadpoles
small fish

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Adults and chicks can be prey for large birds of prey.

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Nests and chicks are vulnerable to opportunistic predators.

eats

Common Cattail

Typha latifolia

Feeds on seeds and roots of aquatic vegetation.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Omnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.