Eurasian Coot

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Eurasian Coot
Fulica atra, adult
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae Genus: Fulica Species: F. atra
Binomial name
Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
Fulica prior

The Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra, also known as Coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae.

Contents 1 Range and habits 2 Gallery 3 Sounds 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Range and habits

The Coot breeds across much of the Old World on freshwater lakes and ponds. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, but migrates further south and west from much of Asia in winter as the waters freeze.

The Coot is much less secretive than most of the rail family, and can be seen swimming on open water or walking across waterside grasslands. It is an aggressive species, and strongly territorial during the breeding season.

It is reluctant to fly and when taking off runs across the water surface with much splashing. They do the same, but without actually flying, when travelling a short distance at speed in territorial disputes. As with many rails, its weak flight does not inspire confidence, but on migration, usually at night, it can cover surprisingly large distances. It bobs its head as it swims, and makes short dives from a little jump.

The Coot is 36-42 cm long, and is largely black except for the white facial shield (which gave rise to the phrase "as bald as a coot"). As a swimming species, the Coot has partial webbing on its long strong toes.

The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult black plumage develops when about 3-4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old, some time later.

This species builds a nest of dead reeds and grasses near the water's edge or on underwater obstacles protruding from the water, laying up to 10 eggs, though usually only 3 survive because of the parents brutal behaviour. ^[1]

Coots can be very brutal to their own young under pressure such as the lack of food. They will bite young that are begging for food and repeatedly do this until it stops begging and starves to death. But if the begging keeps going, then they may even bite so hard that the chick is killed.

The Coot is an omnivore, and will take a variety of small live prey including the eggs of other water birds.

This is a noisy bird with a wide repertoire of crackling, explosive or trumpeting calls, often given at night.

The Eurasian Coot is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

[edit] Gallery

taking bath in the morning at Narendrapur near Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	In a huge congregation (Group) at Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India.	near Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.	with Purple Moorhen near Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.
near Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.	near Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.	Adult and chick in water
A few weeks old Coot, before developing the white facial shield and black plumage	Parent feeding its chicks	Eurasian Coot in St James's Park, London	Coot nest and eggs near a British lake.
Eurasian coot in London with three chicks	The facial shield head-on	Fulica atra on a frozen lac	in Secunderabad , India.
in Secunderabad , India.

[edit] Sounds

• Eurasian Coot Call (WAV file)
• Eurasian Coot Call (OGG file)

[edit] References

1. ^ Attenborough, David, Life of Birds, ISBN 978-0691016337.

• BirdLife International (2004). Fulica atra. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to (category): Fulica atra or Fulica or Rallidae

• Eurasian Coot videos on the Internet Bird Collection