691 Featured Specimen

Eurasian coot

Fulica atra

A black waterbird with a white bill and frontal shield, swimming with lobed toes on lakes and urban ponds.

Range

Habitat range map

Native range Occasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Uses lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, canals, coastal lagoons, and park ponds with aquatic plants and open water.

The body is black, while bill and frontal shield are white. Long dark toes have scalloped lobes for swimming.

It swims while feeding and makes short dives. During breeding, adults are territorial and chase rivals.

Aquatic plants, algae, seeds, insects, mollusks, and small fish are eaten in water and along banks.

Nests are built from piled aquatic vegetation, floating or near shore. Chicks have dark down and bright reddish faces.

Familiar on city water, it can still be affected by feeding, crowding, and poor water quality.