the eurasian coot ( fulica atra ) , also known as coot , is a member of the rail and crake bird family , the rallidae .

the scientific name is from latin ; fulica is " coot " , and atra is " black " .

it is found in europe , asia , australia and parts of africa .

the australian subspecies is known as the australian coot .

eurasian coot

eurasian coot : american coot has white undertail coverts and red marks on bill .
eurasian coot swimming ; the rearward placing of the feet when swimming can be seen .
eurasian coot feet have flattened fringing lobes , instead of webbing , on their feet to assist with swimming .
common coot , fulica atra , linnaeus , 1758 , also known as the black coot , eurasian coot or european coot , or simply as the coot , photographed in ribera de arriba , a municipality in the autonomous community of the principality of asturias , the kingdom of spain ( europe ) .
male eurasian coot settled on the eggs in the nest beside a waterhole at mt . hotham airport , victoria .
voice : sounds by xeno - canto the most frequent calls of red - knobbed coot include a disyllabic ‘klukuk” , deeper than that of eurasian coot , and a metallic ringing ‘krook” . several other calls may be heard , most being deeper than eurasian coot , including a groaning “euh” .
eurasian coot nest with 7 eggs inside ( photo courtesy of d . johnston ) [ near baradine , nsw , 1980ies ]
eurasian coot nest on a suburban lake ( photo courtesy of j . greaves ) [ east perth , wa , december 2014 ]
left ; adult eurasian coot with black head and neck merging into slate - grey body . the larger frontal shield indicates a male ( compare with the smaller frontal shield on the female in the top photograph ) . right ; juvenile eurasian coot with grey plumage .
eurasian coot inspecting his eggs on returning to the nest after a few minutes absence getting food . mt . hotham airport , victoria .
as opposed to most moorhens or swamphens , which are primarily waders , the eurasian coot will also dive for food in shallow water .
closer look at 7 eggs inside an eurasian coot nest ( photo courtesy of d . johnston ) [ near baradine , nsw , 1980ies ]
eurasian coot on its nest with one egg inside ( photo courtesy of j . greaves ) [ east perth , wa , december 2014 ]
eurasian coot can only be confused with the very similar species of red - knobbed coot ( never recorded to madeira ) or american coot ( 1 record only ) . the main difference between the eurasian and the american is that the later is a bit smaller and has a bold white patch under the tail ( like a common moorhen ) .
geographical variation : the australian coot ( fulica atra australis ) of australia , new guinea and new zealand is a subspecies of the eurasian coot , which is widespread in europe , north africa and asia .
in australia the eurasian coot is common in suitably vegetated lagoons and swamps . birds are less common in the north and in the drier regions .
morphological characteristics of the oropharyngeal cavity ( tongue , palate and laryngeal entrance ) in the eurasian coot ( fulica atra , linnaeus , 1758 ) .
eurasian coots , nominate race
atra
, were spotted by us in europe .
the eurasian coot is able to compress its feathers and squeeze out all of the air , which allows it to dive deeply and for longer periods .
eurasian coots caught in the act . . . [ narrabri lake , nsw , september 2010 ]
morphological characteristics of the oropharyngeal cavity ( tongue , palate and laryngeal entrance ) in the eurasian coot ( fulica atra , linnaeus , 1758 ) . - pubmed - ncbi
the eurasian coot ranges from eurasia to indonesia , new guinea and australia . birds have also recently transported themselves to new zealand , and the species is quickly becoming established .
j . greaves reports spotting eurasian coots , race
australis
, regularly in perth , wa .
to the best of our knowledge eurasian coots feed on aquatic plants , but also on small animals .
the eurasian coot , also known as the common coot , has a current evaluation of least concern . the range of this bird species is about 10 million square kilometers . the population of the eurasian coot is nearly 9 million individual birds . this bird species is native to countries throughout europe and asia . it has also been seen in other areas as well , including the united states , canada and guam . at this time , there is no immediate concern regarding the range and population of the eurasian coot , leading to a downgraded rating from a prior rating of lower risk in 2000 .
description : red - knobbed coot looks to eurasian coot . the only difference consists of two swollen red knobs at top of blue white frontal shield , but for most of the year , these knobs are very inconspicuous and remain as tiny brown spots .
direct size comparison between a dusky moorhen , left , and an eurasian coot , right ( photo courtesy of j . ross - taylor ) [ gold coast , qld , june 2014 ]
after the mallard , the eurasian coot is the most widely distributed and most abundant breeding waterbird in switzerland . in winter , many visitors from northern regions join the breeding birds . of all rails , the eurasian coot is the most bound to water and may be encountered even in the middle of large lakes . it is the only native member of the rail family to have lobed toes .
given the right conditions ( and depending on geographical latitude ) , eurasian coots can breed any time of the year .
behaviour : red - knobbed coot is shyer than eurasian coot , and hides very quickly into vegetation . it is a gregarious bird which can be seen in very large numbers , up to 1000 , outside the breeding season . during this period , red - knobbed coot is territorial and pairs stay in the territory all year , chasing away all the intruders which approach the site .
habitat : red - knobbed coot lives in marshes and freshwater lakes with fringing vegetation .
the australian coot is a subspecies of the eurasian coot that self - introduced into new zealand from australia in the 20th century , and was first recorded breeding in new zealand on lake hayes , otago in 1958 . there were about 2 , 000 coots estimated to be present in new zealand in 2005 .
eurasian coots are medium - sized waterhens . their plumage is dark slate - grey , with a black head . the eyes are red , the legs and feet are grey . they are the only waterhens with a white frontal shield and bill . male eurasian coots have a more prominent shield than females . juvenile and immature eurasian coots have a pale throat and duller plumage than adults .
the eurasian coot is a bit like a duck as it is usually seen on water ( and basically always either on or near water ) . it has a white beak and forehead , and red eye , which distinguish it from the dusky moorhen ( which is otherwise very similar when in the water , though it has green legs which you can see when it is walking on land ) . the eurasian coot has dark grey legs .
near - lateral view of a female eurasian coot , with a close - up on its feet with partially webbed toes ( photo courtesy of r . plumtree ) [ raymond island , paynesville , vic , april 2018 ]
eurasian coot : paddles casually in slow moving waters , pecking at bits of vegetation , seeds , and insects , will dive for clams and other invertebrates . regularly comes ashore to feed on grasses and seeds on land .
guy , g . 1957 . coot on the heathcote river . notornis 7 : 163 .
woodcock ( scolopax rusticola - eurasian woodcock ) : mealworms , cranefly larvae , waxworms , earthworms . feed in a shallow tray . ( d24 )
australian coot . adult on rock . wanganui , january 2006 . image © ormond torr by ormond torr
the only bird with which the eurasian coot can be confused is the similarly sized , dark grey dusky moorhen . these species are often found together , but the dusky moorhen has a reddish - orange head shield and bill , with a yellow tip .
the coot is not threatened ; in fact the population has increased somewhat since the 1970s ( 10 ) .
frontal view of a female eurasian coot ( note the narrow facial shield ) , with in the background a dusky moorhen feeding on parts of underwater plants ( photo courtesy of j . ross - taylor ) [ highland park , gold coast , qld , june 2014 ]
eurasian coot : ranges from eurasia to indonesia , new guinea and australia . birds have also recently transported themselves to new zealand , and the species is quickly becoming established . very rarely appears in the pribilof islands of alaska , newfoundland and labrador . found in slow moving fresh or coastal waters .
red - knobbed coot is larger than eurasian coot , and lacks any white at tips of secondaries . it has more uniform plumage . legs and feet are greyish blue , with long lobbed toes . eyes are dark red . it has strong whitish - blue bill . in winter , red knobs are much reduced . we can see only a small dark red patch . both sexes are similar . juvenile lacks red knobs .
the coot is plump with a short tail and is similar to the smaller moorhen , which has a red bill and shield .
the coot has a large repertoire of calls , but one of the most common is a surprisingly loud metallic
cut
.
eurasian coots live in swamps , often around lakes and farm dams , but also in estuaries . they adjust to the presence of humans well and are therefore also common in urban parks .
in the region of narrabri , nsw , where we live , eurasian coots , race
australis
, can be found regularly around freshwater lakes , such as e . g . narrabri lake .
diet : red - knobbed coot feeds on stems and roots of aquatic plants . they eat also seeds , grain , and aquatic invertebrates .
reproduction : the breeding season varies according to the range . the common coot is monogamous . this gregarious species becomes very territorial and pugnacious during this period . the coot usually nests in emergent vegetation and in shallow water , and sometimes in open , occasionally on floating vegetation . the nest rests on the bottom or in trampled base of plants . the coot can also use artificial platforms or tree stumps , or islands .
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when a coot wants to attract a partner , it chases its desired coot around on the water , calls , and strikes the water with its wings . once a pair of coots agree that they like each other , they nibble each other’s feathers affectionately and make greeting postures towards each other .
these coot populations are mostly resident . the northern populations in europe and asia are fully migrant and make wintering southward movements from mid - august to november . the return movement to the breeding grounds occurs from february to may . the resident coot species move locally within their range for foraging and breeding .
the iucn ( international union for conservation of nature ) has categorized and evaluated these coot species and has listed them as of
least concern
.
range : red - knobbed coot lives in eastern and southern africa , and madagascar island . some very local populations live in southern spain and morocco .
the weaker coot is usually forced onto its back or even held under water . it may escape by swimming or by fleeing among showers of water .
the coot receives general protection in britain under the wildlife and countryside act , 1981 . a number of populations occur in special protection areas ( 8 ) .
exceptions are the heron and bittern ( fish - eaters ) and the coot ( omnivorous , with a high proportion of plant material in its diet ) .
mason , o . 2013 [ updated 2017 ] . australian coot . in miskelly , c . m . ( ed . ) new zealand birds online . urltoken
the following habitats are found across the coot distribution range . find out more about these environments , what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them .
the eurasian coot is recognised by its snowy white bill and forehead shield . the remainder of the bird is dark sooty grey , except for its bright red eye . immature birds are generally paler than adults with a white wash on the throat . nestlings are downy , black with fine yellow tips . the head is orange - red and the bill is red with a cream - white tip .
subsequently , hundreds of eurasian coots , race
australis
, were spotted by us at goran lake , an ephemeral lake about 30 km south of gunnedah , nsw , in april 2011 , which disappeared again when goran lake dried up .
flight : in flight , red - knobbed coot shows its narrow neck and its wings entirely dusk . it runs on the water before to rise in the air .
eurasian coot : nesting territories in ponds and marshes vigorously defended against other coots . male brings plant stems and leaves to female who builds bulky floating nest amid marsh vegetation . lays two to twelve white spotted , buff to gray eggs that both parents incubate for 21 to 24 days . both parents care for young , but may split up brood and care for them separately . young fly when 60 days old .
these coot species usually breed during february to september in europe . in the indian subcontinent they breed during may to september . the nest is made with plant material like reeds , leaves and grass . the nest is constructed as floating nest , raised platform or on bushes and trees up to three meters above the water . the clutch may have up to ten eggs . there is much mortality among the coot chicks due to predation and starvation . the young coot chicks are highly dependent on parents for food .
the coot is found in most shallow , still or slow - moving freshwater habitats including ponds , lakes , rivers , marshes , gravel pits and reservoirs ( 7 ) .
response : this is an adult common coot , fulica atra , and two of its chicks . the coots are part of the rallidae , the rail and crake family .
backyard buddies are the native animals that share our built - up areas , our beaches and waterways , our backyards and our parks . the coot is a backyard buddy .
the australian coot is a smart , dark - grey , duck - like waterbird , instantly recognisable from its bright white bill and frontal shield . coots are related to gallinules – the branch of the rail family that includes pukeko and takahe . out of the water , a coot’s stance is more like a small pukeko than a duck . but instead of the pukeko’s long thin toes , coots have broad fleshy lobes on their short toes , used to give propulsion when swimming . the australian coot is a recent arrival in new zealand , first recorded breeding here in 1958 . their colonisation partially fills the niche left vacant by the extinction of the new zealand coot , which was widespread before the arrival of maori .
coot can be seen mainly on freshwater lakes , gravel pits , reservoirs , rivers and town park lakes when deep enough . sometimes seen offshore , especially in winter if freshwater areas are frozen .
coot chicks look quite strange ! they are fluffy grey , with hairy red and orange feathers on their heads and necks . as they mature , they become darker and their beak turns white .
) is a medium sized water bird belonging to the crake and rail family , rallidae . the common coot is distributed in europe , africa , asia , indian subcontinent , southeast asia and australia .
it inhabits slow moving water bodies , pools , ponds , reservoirs , barrages , rivers , river delta , fishponds and freshwater and saline lagoons . there are four recognized subspecies of the common coot .
j . greaves reports spotting eurasian coots , race
australis
, at the granites gold mine , inland nt , in june 2015 , and at the kununurra , wa , sewage treatment works in january 2016 . they were also seen on kangaroo island , sa , in march 2016 .
protection / threats / status : the common coot is relatively common within the range . this species is adapted to urban environment and man - made new habitats . in some parts of the range , oil pollution and hunting involve some declines . drainage of wetlands is not really a problem because they adapt and rapidly colonize suitable artificial habitats such as dams . currently , the common coot is not threatened .
protection / threats / status : red - knobbed coot is endangered . hunting is responsible of the extinction of local populations . but habitat loss and degradations to extend agricultural areas are other responsible of their decline .
the common coot subspecies f . a . atra is distributed in europe , north africa , central asia , indian subcontinent , japan , southeast asia and philippines . the subspecies f . a . lugubris is distributed in indonesia ( east java ) and new guinea . the subspecies f . a . novaeguineae occurs in new guinea . the subspecies f . a . australis ( australian coot ) occurs in australia , new zealand and tasmania .
these common coot species inhabit slow - flowing rivers , eutrophic lakes , ponds , water bodies with marginal , submerged , emergent or floating vegetation , creeks , open marshes , saline estuaries , fish ponds and flooded plains .
range : the common coot is found in europe , asia , australia and africa , and recently in new zealand . the common coot is resident in warm and temperate regions . the northernmost populations of eurasia migrate southwards under influence of hard climate . asian populations migrate southwards and westwards if waters are frozen . we can observe broad front of movement w to s , through continental europe . there also are moult migrations , and other movements and dispersions according to the weather conditions and the countries .
red - knobbed coot spends most of its time swimming in open water . it forages in water from surface , or by diving , and also grazes on the shoreline , running to the water when disturbed . it may stand on the shoreline to preen .
compared to other species of water hens eurasian coots are seen less often wading along the fringes of fresh water . they tend to paddle across water a lot more and feed from the waterside of shores , rather than from the land side . the easiest way to distinguish them from other water hens is that they have a white forehead and no white spots on their tails .
food is mainly obtained during underwater dives , lasting up to 15 seconds and ranging down to 7 m in depth . birds also graze on the land and on the surface of the water . in australia , eurasian coots feed almost entirely on vegetable matter , supplemented with only a few insects , worms and fish . birds of the northern hemisphere tend to take much more animal prey .
with its habit of swimming around on the surface of open water , and diving down to get its food , it is easy to assume that the coot is some sort of duck . but a quick look at its legs and feet soon dispels such a notion : rather than being webbed like those of the duck , the toes are not joined but individually lobed , and the coot’s legs are long , enabling it to run along the ground like a sprinter . this is no duck . but then it is no ordinary rail , either .
the coot is classified as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) . receives general protection under the wildlife and countryside act , 1981 ( 3 ) . included in the birds of conservation concern green list ( low conservation concern ) ( 4 ) .
the coot can be found in a number of locations including : africa , asia , australia , china , europe , indian subcontinent , mediterranean , russia , united kingdom , wales , ynys - hir nature reserve . find out more about these places and what else lives there .
these coot species global population is estimated to be around 8 , 900 , 000 - 9 , 800 , 000 individual birds . the overall population trend is considered to be decreasing . however , as it has a very large range , it is considered not vulnerable . the loss of wetlands and marshes due to human activities is the main threat to the survival of these coot species . hunting , poisoning , pollution from oil and petroleum , drowning in freshwater fishing nets , predation by introduced species of carnivores and avian influenza are the other threats to its survival .
the common coot is medium sized bird , having partial webbing on their long strong toes . it weighs 600 to 1200 grams and its total length is 35 to 40 cm . it has largely black plumage , which is paler in young birds . the adult birds have a white frontal shield . the bill is whitish or very pale pink . the legs are shorter and stronger when compared to other rail species and are greenish gray in color . the coot hatchlings have reddish plumage on the head and face . its call is a loud hissing , crackling or trumpeting sound .
the coot ( fulica atra ) , britain ' s largest rail species ( 5 ) , is a plump water bird ; it has a greyish body , a black head , and a white bill , above which there is a prominent white ' frontal shield ' ( 2 ) . the saying ' as bald as a coot ' refers to this frontal plate , as do a number of local names for the species , including ' bald coot ' and ' white - faced diver ' ( 6 ) . juveniles have whitish areas on the sides of the head , breast and fore neck ; the rest of the body is brownish - grey . the young are covered in black down and have red and blue markings on the head ( 2 ) . coots produce a variety of vocalisations , including a loud ' kowk ' , and a sharp ' pitts ' ( 2 ) .
habitat : the common coot frequents large slow - flowing waters , and prefers shallow waters but with close deeper areas for foraging . it prefers muddy bottom with fringed , emergent , submerged or floating vegetation . the coot is usually found on lakes , ponds , pools , reservoirs , gravel - pits , canals , rivers , creeks , open marshes… the species often breeds on seasonal marshes or temporary pools . it avoids small pools and streams and may sometimes occur on fast rivers if there is suitable vegetation . the common coot requires some open water areas , but usually breeds close to the banks or from floating or emergent vegetation . this species occurs in lowlands , but it can be found up to 1000 metres of elevation in europe , and more , up to 2000 – 2500metres according to the range . in new guinea , it occurs up to 3500 metres and is resident at montane lakes .
. eurasian coots can be found basically all over central europe , the british islands , southern scandinavia , most of the mediterranean and throughout temperate asia plus the indian subcontinent and , via far - east asia , into australia and new zealand . in western and central europe and in ( sub ) tropical asia they are permanent residents , while in asia minor , israel / palestine and along the northern african coastal fringe they are mostly winter visitors .
an important icon of coot society is the frontal shield . this prominent feature , set off by the coal black plumage , is larger in the male than the female , and larger in some individuals than others . it offers something of a challenge to other birds , especially when the head is lowered towards a rival .
description : very common on lakes , ponds and rivers of the old world , the common coot has expanded its range to other countries and continents . this species can be seen in large flocks . their territorial fights are famous and spectacular , with the coots running fast over the lake and raising beautiful showers of water .
the common coot is territorial and fights occur between them . they start by swimming towards each other at high speed . then , there is violent and prolonged striking with feet , clawing at the breast of the opponent and stabbing with bill . both birds spread and hold back the wings in order to unbalance each other .
most rails are shy and retiring , but the coot is very easy to see . it is numerous , tame , often in flocks , very noisy and astonishingly irritable . everywhere the coot goes , the air is filled with its short - tempered “kut” calls ( giving it its name ) , and various other clucks and discordant trumpets . many quarrels are accompanied by splashes . an important threat display is an aggressive charge across the water – the “splattering attack” , and adult coots also fight with their feet , the two birds leaning back in the water and striking each other with their long legs , as if they were kicking hard in the back - stroke .
both adults are similar , with female slightly smaller than male . the common coot adult has black plumage overall , but we can notice a contrast between the deep black head and neck and the paler body which appears greyish - black according to the lighting . the secondary flight feathers are white - tipped . underwing is paler , mostly pale grey .
in australia eurasian coots , race
australis
are found . their range is similar to those of other gallinules , but their ability to deal with various conditions leads them just a bit further than others everywhere . they populate most of the australian continent , except the sandy deserts of wa and the nullarbor . they are most common in the south - east of the continent , including tasmania , and in the south - western corner of wa . in the semi - arid interior their distribution will depend on rainfall .
widespread and common throughout britain , but absent from hilly areas and most parts of northern and western scotland ( 7 ) . elsewhere , the coot is found in europe , northern africa , the middle east , through eurasia , reaching as far east as the pacific coast of china and japan . it is also found in australasia , south - east asia , and india ( 8 ) .
flight : the common coot has short , broad , rounded wings . its flight is rapid but not sustained and usually performed over short distances , often with dangling legs . it flies low from the ground or the water , with stronger and heavier flight than other rallidae , but it needs long pattering run across the water before to take off . the long toes trail behind the tail .
family : rallidae ( rails , gallinules , coot , 14 species in australia ) . size : 32 - 39 cm distribution : almost all of australia except small areas in central and central - west australia , and almost half of southwest wa status : locally abundant to common habitat : swamps , reserviors , fresh or brackish open lakes , estuaries references : simpson and day , reader ' s digest
all - black and larger than its cousin , the moorhen , the coot has a distinctive white beak and ' shield ' above the beak which earns it the title ' bald ' . its feet have distinctive lobed flaps of skin on the toes which act in the same way as webbed feet when swimming . it patters noisily over the water before taking off and can be very aggressive towards others .
the coot ' s plumage is sooty - grey , and its bill and frontal shield are white , though the bill can sometimes have a pink or yellow tinge to it . the legs and lobed toes are silvery - grey , but the sides of the legs are yellow - green , and just above the
knee
( really the ankle joint ) is an orange - red
garter
.
behaviour : the common coot is omnivorous but mainly vegetarian . it primarily feeds on seeds and green parts of aquatic and some terrestrial plant species , algae , grasses and cereals . it also takes animal food such as worms , leeches , shrimps , molluscs , insects ( adults and larvae ) and spiders . it may take fish and fish - eggs , small frogs , small birds and eggs and small mammals .
diet : the common coot is omnivorous , feeding primarily on vegetal matter such as shoots and seeds of aquatic and some terrestrial plants , algae , grasses and cereals . it also takes animal food such as worms , leeches , molluscs , shrimps , insects ( adults and larvae ) and spiders . it may also feed on fish and fish - eggs , small amphibians , birds and eggs , and small mammals .
the primary diet of these coot species is plant matter like algae , the vegetative parts of aquatic plants and reeds , grass , seeds , cereal crops , flowers , berries , buds and moss . they also feed on small fiish , mollusks , shrimp , aquatic insects and larvae , small frogs , small birds and mammals . their feeding habit includes grazing on land , near water - edge or diving in water .
taylor , b . & kirwan , g . m . ( 2018 ) . common coot ( fulica atra ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
eurasian coots may breed at any time that conditions are favourable , and may produce successive broods . during the breeding season pairs establish and maintain territories with vigour . their aggression is also extended towards other species . nests of ducks are often seized and used as roosting sites , the unfortunate owner ' s eggs being pushed off into the water . young ducks and grebes are sometimes killed . the nest is often a floating raft of vegetation or is built on logs or tree stumps that are surrounded by water . both sexes share incubation and care of the young . if food becomes scarce , the young birds may be killed by the parents .
this species feeds both in water and on land with several foraging methods such as scraping algae from substrate , gleaning , dabbling , upending , diving and grazing . we can see large flocks feeding and grazing on the ground but near water , mainly if the wind causes too high waves . it also performs piracy from other bird’s species , especially swans and ducks . the common coot is diurnal but it may be often active at night on moonlit nights .
reproduction : red - knobbed coot’s nest is built by both adults , with sedges and dry leaves . it is a floating platform in mid deep waters , and situated in aquatic plant area . female lays 4 to 6 sandy greyish eggs , speckled with black or dark red . incubation lasts about 20 to 22 days , by both adults . chicks leave the nest one day after hatching , and may swim near their parents which feed them during one month .
the australian coot breeds between september and march and is very territorial during this time . they breed as monogamous pairs , often raising 2 broods per year . three to 5 eggs , cream with dark spots , are laid in a floating nest of twigs and vegetation anchored to branches or reeds . both sexes incubate the eggs for about 22 days , and older young help feed and raise the new offspring . the whole family group often remains together until the next spring .
watching coots in the breeding season , one might facetiously suppose that the youngsters bring about murderous passions in their parents by their incessant cheeping pleas for food . the chicks look remarkably unlike the adults : they are fluffy , with minute stunted wings , heads stained with red or yellow , and with red bills . the period of parental care is quite long in the coot , with the young only feeding themselves after about 30 days , much longer than in most rail species .
voice : sounds by xeno - canto the common coot’s typical contact call is a short “kow” , “kowk” , “kup” or a sharp “kik” , or sometimes a two - notes call “kick - kowp” . these calls are rather metallic and resonant , but also explosive when the birds are excited . during the fights , the male gives sharp “pssi” and the female a croaking “ai” . the alarm call is a sharper variant of the previous call , but the female utters rapid series of “ai - oeu” calls . these birds are noisy .
the coot feeds on pondweeds and invertebrates ( 5 ) ; it dives rather clumsily to obtain food , and returns to the surface rapidly thanks to its cork - like buoyancy ( 7 ) . unlike ducks , coots bring their food to the surface before eating it ; this results in frequent cases of food stealing ( 5 ) . they are opportunistic birds , and may feed in grasslands at certain times of the year ( 7 ) . during winter , large flocks may gather on large lakes and reservoirs ( 9 ) , these gatherings are relatively peaceful compared to the fierce territorial aggression seen during the breeding season ( 2 ) .
the aggression of the coot sometimes goes beyond adult rivalry into something more sinister . coots are normally attentive parents , dividing the labour evenly between them : for the first few days the female broods while the male brings food ; and later the brood may be “split” between the two parents , with each adult feeding only its selected half . but occasionally and incongruously , a parent can be seen to attack a chick , grabbing its head and shaking it , sometimes fatally . the very opposite of parental care , this extreme behaviour may be related to food supply , the birds ensuring that there are not too many chicks taking meagre resources .
this bird is mainly vegetarian , and it has diverse feeding methods . it will graze on land , swim with its head and neck immersed ( often scraping algae from the rocks and vegetation ) , pick from shallow water and , of course , dive . it is rather limited in the latter , being somewhat buoyant . its submersions are brief ( 20s maximum ) , it doesn’t go very deep , and it does not swallow its food underwater . as a result , it is a favourite victim of bullying ducks such as gadwall , which requisition the coot’s hard - won pickings as soon as they reach the surface . at times , though , coots may use their aggression to turn the tables on their persecutors , or take it out on members of their own species that have found food nearby .
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the society ' s quarterly scientific journal . this peer - reviewed journal has been publishing ornithological research relevant to new zealand and the south pacific since 1943 ( originally as new zealand bird notes ) . all birds new zealand members are encouraged to submit original papers or short notes on their bird observations or studies to the notornis editor : dr craig symes .
notornis has a wide circulation within new zealand and overseas , and is provided to all members of birds new zealand . pdfs for each volume will be made available online as close as practicable to the standard publication dates ( last day in march , june , september , december ) . .
the society offers 2 notornis awards : a
notornis - student award
and a
notornis - new author award
.
the society ' s quarterly news magazine . this magazine provides a forum for members to report back on trips , society schemes , interesting bird sightings and to advertise coming trips , meetings and events . to submit an article or item for publication in birds new zealand , please contact the birds new zealand editor : michael szabo .
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cramp , s . and simmons , k . e . l . ( eds ) . 1977 - 1994 . handbook of the birds of europe , the middle east and africa . the birds of the western palearctic . oxford university press , oxford .
ashpole , j , butchart , s . , ekstrom , j . , malpas , l .
justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km 2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be increasing , thus it is not believed to approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is extremely large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
the global population is estimated to number c . 7 , 950 , 000 - 9 , 750 , 000 individuals ( wetlands international 2016 ) . the european population is estimated at 945 , 000 - 1 , 550 , 000 pairs , which equates to 1 , 890 , 000 - 3 , 090 , 000 mature individuals ( birdlife international 2015 ) . trend justification : the overall population trend is increasing , although some populations are decreasing , stable , fluctuating or have unknown trends ( wetlands international 2016 ) . in europe the population size is estimated to be decreasing and , although there is high uncertainty in the reported trends , the rate of decline is likely to approach 30 % in 21 years ( three generations ) ( birdlife international 2015 ) .
conservation actions underway eu birds directive annex ii and iii . the mediterranean and black sea populations are on cms appendix ii . the species is legally protected in britain . conservation actions proposed no conservation measures are currently needed for this species within its european range , although monitoring and research on the impacts of hunting , pollution and habitat alteration would help inform any future conservation measures .
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eye - rings are red , legs are yellow - gray . feeds on aquatic plants , insects , amphibians , mollusks and small fish . agressive towards other water birds . swift direct flight on rapid wing beats , feet protrude beyond tail .
they are reluctant to fly , and when taking off they run across the surface of the water splashing as they go .
if food becomes scarce , the young birds may be killed by the parents .
a group of coots has many collective nouns , including a
codgery
,
commotion
,
fleet
,
shoal
, and
swarm
of coots .
the taxonomic order gruiformes ( pronounced groo - ih - for - meez ) is composed of six bird families including the legendary cranes , the odd sunbittern , snail - eating limpkin , and the rails .
rails , gallinules and coots are placed in the rallidae ( pronounced rahl - ih - dee ) family , a large group of one hundred and thirty species in thirty - one genera found on all continents and many islands except for antarctica .
twenty - nine species of rails , gallinules and coots in fourteen genera have been identified in north america . among these are the duck - like coots , colorful gallinules , and the furtive rails .
rallidae are known for being secretive birds of wetlands , especially marshes . they are also known for being very difficult to see , the yellow rail and black rail notably so .
rails are small to medium sized birds with short tails , rather short necks and short wings . some have laterally compressed bodies adapted for navigating the thick vegetation of marshes . bill shape varies from short and stout in the case of coots and gallinules and a few rail species such as the sora , to longish and thin as in the virginia rail and related species . depending on the species , their legs can be short or long but all have long toes ( which are lobed in the aquatic coots ) .
rails , gallinules and coots demonstrate a wide range of colors and plumages . the most colorful are some species of gallinules that have purple and iridescent green plumage . like some rail species , they also show bright red in the bill . the bill color of rails can also be black or yellow , or chalky white as shown by some coots . coots also have the dullest plumages ; plain slate - gray and black . black and grays are also found in the plumages of other rails that might not be brightly colored but are beautifully patterned with barring and stripes of these colors as well as various shades of brown .
members of the rallidae are found in most wetlands habitats in the united states and canada . although the coots occur in the open water of lakes and ponds , other rails are restricted to the dense vegetation of marshes and wet meadows . freshwater marshes are frequented by gallinules , the sora , and virginia and king rails ; these species being mostly replaced by the clapper rail in salt marshes . the enigmatic black and yellow rails locally occur in both marsh types .
most rail species are short distance migrants to marshes and rice fields of the southern united states and mexico .
rallidae are for the most part solitary in nature except when pairing up for breeding . most rails forage by picking grain , insects and other small creatures from marsh vegetation , except for the coots that forage by picking insects off the surface of the water .
as with other species dependent upon wetlands , many rallidae species have shown decreases in their populations because of drainage of their marshy habitats . the locally distributed black rail and the “yuma” subspecies of the clapper rail that occurs in the delta of the colorado river are of particularly threatened by habitat loss .
many rail species are active at night and call more often at this time . this appears to be a means of avoiding predators , especially for the yellow rail , a species that even avoids calling on bright , moonlit nights .
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the area where the bill extends onto the forehead of the bird . it is often brightly colored and is meant to grab the attention of other birds .
adult australian coots are entirely slate - grey with a white bill and frontal shield . they have red eyes and large grey feet with lobed toes . sexes are alike . juvenile and immature birds have duller and paler colouring , with some pale grey on the chin and throat . they have brown eyes and smaller frontal shields . coots are rarely seen in flight , where they differ from scaup in that their legs trail behind their tails in flight .
similar species : new zealand scaup have similar body size , shape , colouration and diving behaviour , but differ in having a blue - grey bill and no frontal shield , plus males have a yellow eye , and females often have white around the bill base ( cf . blackish facial feathers in coots ) .
australian coots are found throughout mainland new zealand other than northland , but there are few parts of the country where they are abundant . coots are entirely aquatic , and there are large parts of the country that do not have their preferred freshwater lakes and ponds with submerged vegetation and reedy , grassy islands or edges .
single coots , possibly the same bird , have occurred as vagrants on stewart island ( december 2012 ) and the snares islands ( april 2013 ) . coots have reached macquarie island island at least twice , with at least 7 birds in may - october 1957 , and one in june - october 1975 .
coots reached new zealand on many occasions before they established , with at least 9 records from the south island between 1875 ( lovells flat , otago ) and 1957 ( heathcote river , christchurch ) , before the first eggs and chicks were seen at lake hayes in november 1958 . the first north island record was at lake tutira , hawkes bay in 1954 . there was an influx of coots in or before 1957 , and they rapidly established as a breeding species .
as a self - introduced species , australian coots are automatically covered by the wildlife act , and are fully protected . they are well - established in new zealand , with no recognised threats .
coots are the most aquatic members of the rail family , and are less secretive than most other rails . although they do graze on short grass , they spend most of their time in the water , bobbing their heads as they swim and making short dives after a little forward jump . when alarmed they seek cover among emergent vegetation on the water rather than flying away . they appear to fly reluctantly from the water , pattering across the surface with a lot of splashing before finally taking off or settling in another area . however , they are strong fliers frequently covering large distances , usually at night . these flights and changes of location do not appear to be seasonal . large flocks of coots may form after the breeding season .
coots eat mainly vegetation – seeds , algae , grass , leaves , shoots and fruit – but also feed on invertebrates and occasionally , eggs . they will also take bread thrown to ducks .
fleming , c . a . ( convener ) 1953 . checklist of new zealand birds . a . h . & a . w . reed for the ornithological society of new zealand , wellington .
heighway , j . s . ; mackenzie , n . b . 1963 . coots in hawke ' s bay . notornis 10 : 184 - 185 .
kinsky , f . c . ( convener ) 1970 . annotated checklist of new zealand birds , including the birds of the ross dependency . a . h . & a . w . reed for the ornithological society of new zealand , wellington .
marchant , s . ; higgins , p . j . ( eds ) 1993 . handbook of australian , new zealand and antarctic birds . vol . 2 , raptors to lapwings . oxforduniversity press , melbourne .
moon , g . 2006 . the reed field guide to new zealand birds . reed , auckland .
robertson , h . a ; baird , k . ; dowding , j . e . ; elliott , g . p . ; hitchmough , r . a . ; miskelly , c . m . ; mcarthur , n . ; o’donnell , c . f . j . ; sagar , p . m . ; scofield , r . p . ; taylor , g . a . 2017 . conservation status of new zealand birds , 2016 . new zealand threat classification series 19 . wellington , department of conservation . 27 p .
robertson , h . ; heather , b . 2005 . the hand guide to the birds of new zealand . penguin , auckland .
small , m . m . ; soper , m . f . 1959 . australian coots nesting in otago . notornis 8 : 93 - 93 .