Search  Advanced Search About Birds Birds are warm-blooded Birds lay eggs Birds incubate their eggs with heat from their bodies Birds care for their young Birds have beaks and no teeth Birds are covered with feathers Birds have wings Most birds can fly Birds have stong hollow bones Birds are vertebrates		American Coot Fulica americana Birds Information Sightings Map | Observed Behaviors Common Names -  American Coot, Greenleg, Mudhen, Poule D'eaux, Swamp Chicken Larva Names -  Not Applicable Scientific Name -  Fulica americana Kingdom -  Animalia (Animals) Phylum -  Chordata (Chordates) Class -  Aves (Birds) Order -  Gruiformes (Wading Birds) Family -  Rallidae (Coots, Crakes, Rails, Gallinules) Genus -  Fulica Species -  americana General Description -  The American Coot is a medium-sized wading bird. They have an appearance similar to that of a duck when on the water. The American Coot's pointed bill, long legs and over-sized feet are the most obvious ways to differentiate this bird from a duck. The American Coot's feet are not webbed like a duck's. Instead the toes are very long and lobed to help make the American Coot a powerful swimmer. Male Description -  The beak is a light grey color, almost white, with a small dark ring near the tip. A reddish-brown knob on the forehead above the beak is a very distinctive feature of the American Coot. Legs and feet are a greenish-yellow with dark grey or black claws. Eyes are reddish-brown or mahogany in color. American Coots have a plumage that is dark grey to black in color with a small patch of white under the tail. Their undersides are slightly lighter than the rest of the bird. Male Length -  15 inches Male Weight -  32 ounces Male Wingspan -  23 to 28 inches Female Description -  The female is identical to the male. Female Length -  15 inches Female Weight -  32 ounces Female Wingspan -  23 to 28 inches Age of Maturity -  1 year of age Breeding Season -  May through June Mating Rituals -  Mating rituals begin in late spring, and consists of calls, displays and splashing. Courtship begins in the water, but actual mating takes place on land. Mates per Season -  1 mate per season Nest Description -  Nests are constructed of reeds, and are typically around 14 inches in diameter. Nest Location -  Nests are located on the ground near reed cover at the edge of a body of water. Nest Building -  Both parents participate in nest building. Eggs per Clutch -  8 to 10 eggs Egg Description -  Pink with brown spots Egg Size -  1.9 inches long by 1.3 inches wide Incubation -  Incubation begins after last egg is laid, and last for 23 days. Incubation is performed by both the male and the female. Gestation -  Not Applicable Brood Size -  8 to 10 chicks Broods per Season -  1 brood per season Care of Young -  Chicks are cared for by both parents. Juvenile Diet -  Not Available Feeding Frequency -  Not Available Larval Stage -  Not Applicable Newborn Description -  Not Available Newborn Length -  Not Available Newborn Weight -  Not Available Newborn Wingspan -  Not Available Juvenile Description -  Juveniles have coloration similar to the adults with the following exceptions: Lighter coloration in general especially on the underside, a slightly darker bill with a more pronounced dark ring at the tip and without the reddish-brown knob on the forehead, and dark grey legs and feet. Juvenile Length -  Not Available Juvenile Weight -  Not Available Juvenile Wingspan -  Not Available Pupal Stage -  Not Applicable Pupa Description -  Not Applicable Pupa Length -  Not Applicable Pupa Weight -  Not Applicable Age of Independence -  Juvenile American Coots are capable of flight at 5 to 6 weeks of age, and are fully independent at 2 months. Lifespan -  9 years in the wild Active -  Active during the day Sleep -  Sleeps at night Shelter -  Not Available Hibernation -  Not Applicable Feeding Habits -  American Coots feed throughout the day, and frequently submerge their entire body when diving for food. Diet -  Small aquatic animals such as fish, tadpoles and insect are an important part of its diet. Aquatic vegetation is also consumed. In DFW Area -  Year-round Spring Migration -  Weather based Fall Migration -  Weather based Habitat -  American Coots prefer to live in and near the swallows of freshwater lakes, ponds, and marshes. Observation Tips -  American Coots are social birds and gather into large flocks around suitable bodies of water. Male Sounds -  A wide variety of noises including grunts, honks and clucking. "kuk-kuk-kuk" Female Sounds -  Indentical to the male Observed Behaviors Sort by  Observation Behavior Type City Time of Year Observation - American Coot 1.1 Behavior Type - Congregating City - Carrollton Time of Year - Late Fall (Nov 21 - Dec 20) Details - American Coots swimming with Lesser Scaups and Ring-billed Gulls at a nearby duck pond...more Observation - American Coot 1.2 Behavior Type - Feeding City - Carrollton Time of Year - Late Fall (Nov 21 - Dec 20) Details - While I was photographing the American Coots, some neighborhood kids came along with bread to feed the birds. The various waterfowl quickly assembled in front of the kids. Here the American Coots are joined...more Observation - American Coot 1.3 Behavior Type - Feeding City - Carrollton Time of Year - Late Fall (Nov 21 - Dec 20) Details - When the bread hits the water these birds get very excited. In this picture a couple of Mallards have joined the American Coots, Ring-billed Gulls, and Lesser Scaups for an easy meal...more Observation - American Coot 1.4 Behavior Type - Feeding City - Carrollton Time of Year - Late Fall (Nov 21 - Dec 20) Details - A close-up of the jockeying for position that occurred every time a piece of bread was thrown to these American Coots...more Observation - American Coot 1.5 Behavior Type - Feeding City - Carrollton Time of Year - Late Fall (Nov 21 - Dec 20) Details - Another close-up of the feeding frenzy action. Here a Ring-billed Gull trys to snatch a piece of bread from the American Coots below him...more Observation - American Coot 1.6 Behavior Type - Roaming City - Carrollton Time of Year - Late Fall (Nov 21 - Dec 20) Details - Look at the feet on this American Coot!...more
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