They constitute the genus Fulica, the name being the Latin term for "coot". Coots have predominantly black plumage , and—unlike many rails—they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water.

The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Their tiny tail, short wings, and large feet are visible on the rare occasions they take flight.

The American coot (Fulica americana), also known as a mud hen or pouldeau, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order.

Audubon’s scientists have used 140 million bird observations and sophisticated climate models to project how climate change will affect the range of the American Coot. Learn even more in our Audubon’s Survival By Degrees project.

A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks.

The Coot is a small members of the rail, or Rallidae, family. They are genetically related to rails , moorhens, crakes , gallinules, and more. Most Coots have short beaks, fleshy frontal shields on their foreheads, and stout bodies.

A familiar black bird of our lakes, ponds and rivers, the coot is widespread; look out for its large and untidy-looking nest on the water in spring. The coot can be distinguished from the similar Moorhen by its white beak and 'shield', and its entirely black body.

The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. [3] It has a slaty-black body, a glossy black head and a white bill with a white frontal shield. The sexes are similar.

Aug 13, 2018 · With a duck-ish head, a body shaped like a chicken, and a pointy beak to match, the American Coot looks like the most impractical mash-up of birds—and that’s just in the water. On land, you can see another part of its wacky appearance: those feet.

A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks.