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Catch small invertebrates and eat waterweeds
- A familiar bird of many of our wetlands, the coot is often seen on park lakes, ponds and rivers. They spend more of their time on the water than their relative the moorhen and will dive to catch small invertebrates and eat waterweeds. Unlike ducks, coots will bring their catch to the surface before eating it, leading to squabbles over food.
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Coot. Scientific name: Fulica atra. A familiar black bird of our lakes, ponds and rivers, the coot is widespread; look out for its large and untidy-looking nest on the water in spring. The coot can be distinguished from the similar Moorhen by its white beak and 'shield', and its entirely black body.
- Moorhen
It can be distinguished from the similar coot by its yellow...
- Moorhen
This resident waterbird is widely distributed across Britain & Ireland, though absent from upland areas and much of western England and Wales. Largely herbivorous in its diet, the Coot is a bottom feeder, seizing plant material and returning to the surface to eat it.
- Description of The Coot
- Interesting Facts About The Coot
- Habitat of The Coot
- Distribution of The Coot
- Diet of The Coot
- Coot and Human Interaction
- Coot Care
- Behavior of The Coot
- Reproduction of The Coot
All of the 10 different species of these birds look relatively similar to one another. Their shape resembles a chicken, with stout bodies and short beaks. Their feathers are black, and their beaks and legs are light colored. Most species have a frontal shield, which extends up the forehead from the beak. At their largest, these birds are about two ...
These are interesting little birds, with a number of different adaptations. Learn more about what makes these birds unique below. 1. Waterworks – Coots differ from other members of the rail family in their behavior in the water. Most rails live in shallow waters and wade along the edges in search of food, but Coots swim through the water like a duc...
Different species of these birds prefer different habitat types, but they are all aquatic. These birds live in and around water bodies, and love swimming. Some of the different ecosystems that they inhabit include ponds, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, swamps, marshes, and more. Some species even live in public parks, gardens, and on farms with ponds.
These birds live across a wide range of different regions. Their distribution varies based on the species. Some species live across immense areas, while others inhabit only a small region. These birds live in North, Central, and South America, including Hawaii. They also live in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the surrounding islands.
All the different Coot species have similar diets. However, their specific prey varies from region to region. A Hawaiian Coot isn’t going to eat the same species of prey as an Andean Coot in South America does. Most species are omnivores, and they feed on both plants and small animals. Some common prey includes tadpoles, small fish, shrimp, crabs, ...
Human impact varies from species to species, usually based on how widely distributed the species is. Some species live across huge expanses, like the Eurasian Coot. Other species live only in a small area, like the Hawaiian Coot. In this example, the IUCN lists the widespread Eurasian species as Least Concern, while they list the Hawaiian species a...
In zoos, these birds live in enclosures with plenty of water for them to swim and wade in. Because they like to dive and swim underwater, their water features must be sufficiently deep. These birds often live in enclosures with other small waterfowl, because they are relatively docile and social towards other animals. Zookeepers feed them a variety...
Most Coot species are social, and live in groups known as flocks. These flocks provide plenty of eyes to keep watch for potential predators. If they spot a predator, they noisily announce the danger, making it difficult for the predator to catch anything – Coot or otherwise. During the breeding season, pairs of these birds breed with one mate and c...
Pairs of Coots perform a number of different displays and calls to attract a potential mate. Once they have paired up, the birds work together to build a nest out of reeds and twigs. They build their nests close to the water, usually with an easy-access ramp so the chicks can get back into the nest. Females lay about 10 eggs per clutch, and incubat...
Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family, Rallidae. They constitute the genus Fulica, the name being the Latin term for "coot". Coots have predominantly black plumage, and—unlike many rails—they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water.
The Eurasian Coot is all-black and larger than its cousin, the Moorhen. It has a distinctive white beak and 'shield' above the beak which earns it the title 'bald'. Its feet have lobed flaps of skin on the toes which act in the same way as webbed feet when swimming.
Learn more about coots in this expert guide which explains how to identify, diet and other facts about this fascinating species.
The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the Common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of North Africa.
