Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

American Coot

Fulica americana

Description:

Black and gray bird with silver beak and red eyes. The feet are yellow and black and resemble leaves. This one was part of a group called a cover or raft. The chicks can be seen at: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/118... and the juvenile at: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/126...

Habitat:

Small pond in Ramona amongst Mallards and American Widgeons.

Notes:

The video was taken two weeks later in Escondido and shows the playful and defensive sides to this bird. "Although coots seem rather weak fliers, like most rails they have considerable stamina once airborne. These birds require a great deal of effort to become airborne, pedaling across the water with their feet before lifting off. The way in which their heads bob when they walk or swim has earned them the name "marsh hen"or "mud hen"." - Wikipedia

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

8 Comments

CindyBinghamKeiser
CindyBinghamKeiser 12 years ago

I agree!

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 12 years ago

fascinating feet!

CindyBinghamKeiser
CindyBinghamKeiser 12 years ago

Thank you beallburton and Antonio. Maybe it's true what they say about those without the great looks have a great personality. :)

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 12 years ago

Cindy i love the video,very complet spotting

beallburton
beallburton 12 years ago

Very funny video. Coots might be a pretty plain bird, but they have plenty of personality.

CindyBinghamKeiser
CindyBinghamKeiser 12 years ago

I took some video of the behavior of the American Coot. Since I didn't get a still image, I just added it to this spotting of one from a couple weeks ago.

CindyBinghamKeiser
CindyBinghamKeiser 12 years ago

I couldn't believe it actually stood still for a few seconds! It quickly retreated to the water but not before I got some shots in :)

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 12 years ago

How did it let you photograph it's feet!

San Diego, California, USA

Spotted on Jan 21, 2012
Submitted on Jan 21, 2012

Related Spottings

Hawaiian Coot American Coot Focha American coot

Nearby Spottings

American Wigeon Wooly Milkweed Spotting Spotting

Reference

Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team