American Coot

Fulica americana

The American Coot is a member of the rail family (Rallidae). This bird swims and behaves like a waterfowl and often congregates with ducks. Compared to most other rails, these birds are bold and outgoing and often quarrelsome. They will aggressively chase each other and even other species away from their chosen territory.

Their feet have partial webbing that does not connect between the toes, as with true waterfowl. These lobes fold flat and provide them with the ability to walk on dry land without sinking into soft mud as easily as some other birds. These lobes even help propel the coots while they swim. By flexing behind the foot during the forward stroke and standing to the side to catch water for the power stroke, they propel more efficiently.

It is a common practice for unpaired females, or females without territories, to lay eggs in a neighbor’s nest. The nest owner uses a selective strategy (not fully understood) to eliminate the interloper’s offspring. The young chicks lose their bizarre orange-red head feathers after three weeks. Studies show the nest owners will weed out young chicks who age out of the redheaded phase too soon or at a different time than the rest of their nest-mates.

Modern science recognizes two subspecies of American Coot:

F. a. americana lives all across North America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands.
F. a. columbiana lives in northern South America.

They range over most of North America, save for the tundras of the higher latitudes. Summer breeding territory extends to the Northern Rockies in the northwest, and across the northern prairie provinces and states to the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes. They are resident year-round in much of the Western USA, Texas and Mexico. These birds are winter only visitors at several western locations such as the Mojave and Sonoran Desert regions of the southwest, most of southeastern USA, and much of Central America.

I grew up calling these birds Mud Hens, a name still in use in some quarters. I do not always attempt image captures when I find them. However, when I find the very young coots, replete with their red and gold Larry Fine headgear, I cannot help myself from capturing the best images I can.

39 Photos

American Coot - Fulica americana — **American Coot**
*(Fulica americana)*

**Description:**
"The Ponds" adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County.
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**Date Taken:** 2010:01:06 12:28

**Location:**

Poway Grove Park
Poway, California
United States
436.37 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600

**File Name:** JCD5024.AmericanCoot

© 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging

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Pin It — **American Coot**
*(Fulica americana)*

**Description:**
"The Ponds" adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2010:01:06 12:28

**Location:**

Poway Grove Park
Poway, California
United States
436.37 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600

**File Name:** JCD5024.AmericanCoot

© 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging

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