American coot (Fulica americana)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION

• Length: 12 inches Wingspan: 25 inches

• Fairly large, duck-like waterbird with short wings and a short tail

• Very short, thick bill

• Frequently seen both swimming and walking

• Often flicks and cocks short tail while walking, exposing white outer   undertail coverts

• Sexes similar

• Toes have lobed webbing, unlike gallinules

Adult:

• White bill with dark reddish ring just before tip

• White frontal shield with reddish oval near tip

• Slate gray head, neck, back, upperwings, breast and belly

Juvenile:

• Lacks the frontal shield of the adult

• Horn-colored bill may lack ring near tip

• Pale gray-brown head, neck, upperwings, breast and back; feathers on underparts often with paler edges

Similar species:

Common moorhen is of similar size and shape but has a reddish bill with a
yellowish tip, a white stripe along the flanks, and a brownish back.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status:N/A
Breeding Habitat: Wetland-open water
Nest Location:N/A
Nest Type:N/A
Clutch Size: 2-22
Length of Incubation: 21-25 days
Days to Fledge: 49-56(?)
Number of Broods: usually 1, occasionally 2
Diet: Primarily green plant matter and seeds; lesser quantities of aquatic
invertebrates

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November Acc

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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