North American field guide
American Coot
Fulica americana
Identification
Field notes
33-41 cm (13-16") Common to abundant. Open ponds, marshes.
Slate-colored duck-like; white bill with partial black ring near tip; small reddish-brown forehead shield; white outer undertail coverts, inner feathers black; greenish legs. Toes are lobed unlike gallinules.
Pumps head back and forth when swimming. Feeds by diving and dipping.
In flight, shows narrow white stripe along trailing edge of wing.
Song: croaks, cackles, clucking, grunts.
Watch and learn
Videos
American Coot (Fulica americana)
Credit: Wandering Sole ImagesWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
American Coot
2 rulesRule 1 13 criteria · confidence 8
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Chicken-like marsh bird · Duck or Goose-like
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southeastern United States · Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
Rule 2 13 criteria · confidence 2
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Chicken-like marsh bird · Duck or Goose-like
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States