Coots are dark-gray to black birds with a bright-white bill and forehead. The legs are yellow-green. At close range you may see a small patch of red on the forehead. You’ll find coots eating aquatic plants on almost any body of water.

Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family, Rallidae. 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.

Coots live near water, typically inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies in North America. Groups of coots are called covers[3] or rafts. [2] . The oldest known coot lived to be 22 years old. [2] The American coot is a migratory bird that occupies most of North America.

Coots are tough, adaptable waterbirds. Although they are related to the secretive rails, they swim in the open like ducks and walk about on shore, making themselves at home on golf courses and city park ponds.

You can find American Coots by scanning lakes and ponds for a small, all-black bird with a bright white bill. They may be at the edges, among vegetation, or out in open water; you may even see them walking around (not waddling) on land on their fairly long, yellow-green legs.

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.

Most Coots have short beaks, fleshy frontal shields on their foreheads, and stout bodies. Their plumage is primarily black, though some species have a slight iridescent sheen. Read on to learn about the animal.

Feb 22, 2023 · The American Coot is an odd, dark, duck-like bird that breeds in lakes, ponds, freshwater marshes, and other wetlands from the Great Lakes region to central and western Canada, much of the central and western USA, Mexico, and on several Caribbean islands.

American coots are diurnal social birds that live in flocks and are the only rail family members to live in groups. These birds can make a wide range of noises, from clucking to grunting, to communicate with each other and also to threaten predators.

American Coots are common and widespread, and populations appear to be stable, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population at 7.1 million and rates them 8 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, indicating a species of low conservation concern.