# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 36 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![American Coot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/American_coot_in_Prospect_Park_%2806152%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_coot_in_Prospect_Park_%2806152%29.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Gruiformes - **Family:** Rallidae - **Genus:** Fulica ## 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 - **Lobed Swimmer:** American Coots have unique lobed toes, not fully webbed, that help them paddle powerfully in water and walk easily on land. - **Underwater Diver:** American Coots can dive underwater for up to 30 seconds to forage for plants and small aquatic animals. - **Floating Nests:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Adults and chicks can be prey for large birds of prey. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Coot? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is American Coot? 34-43 cm ### What is American Coot's wingspan? 58-71 cm ### How much does American Coot weigh? 0.45-0.8 kg ### How long does American Coot live? 3-9 years ### How fast can American Coot move? 50 km/h ### What does American Coot eat? The American Coot is an omnivore, eating a mix of plants and small creatures found in the water. ### Where is American Coot usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Bellefontaine Cemetery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellefontaine-cemetery) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Boyce Thompson Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boyce-thompson-arboretum) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Childs-Irving Hydroelectric Facilities](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/childs-irving-hydroelectric-facilities) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Congress Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/congress-avenue-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District - [Downtown Quincy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-quincy-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District [View all places to see American Coot](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-coot) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [American Coot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-coot)