Scientific Name:                  Fulica americana
Common Name(s):            American Coot, Mud Hen

©Rhododendrites

Identification:

The American coot, Fulica americana, is commonly mistaken for a duck.  These migratory waterbirds can be easily distinguished from ducks by the wide, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step to help them walk on dry land.  American coots can range from 12-17 inches in length and 23-28 inches in wingspan.  Adults have a short, thick, white bill with a dark red ring near the tip.  They also have white, hard, specialized skin extending from the upper bill over the forehead that normally has a reddish-brown spot between the eyes.  Their feathers are a slate gray-black and cover most of the body.  They have a short tail with white markings underneath.  Juveniles lack the white, hard specialized skin, and may lack the reddish ring near the tip of the bill.  Females are smaller than the males but are similar in appearance.

©Cephas, Stongey

Range:

American coots are found in most of North America.  They inhabit the southern United States and Mexico year-round and inhabit more northern regions during the summer breeding season.  In the winter, they can migrate as far south as Panama.

Ecology:

American coots can be found near water bodies.  They favor freshwater, but can temporarily live in saltwater environments during winter.  They tend to travel in flocks called covers or rafts, especially in the winter, when their flocks can total in the thousands.  When swimming, American coots display remarkable formations, including single-file lines, synchronized swimming, wide arcing formations, and consecutive take-offs.  Male and female coots have different types of calls, but use them in similar situations, as alarm or stress calls.

Breeding occurs in May and June.  American coots have one partner for life, if they have a sustainable territory.  Courtship periods are long and consist of touching bills, bowing, and nibbling.  Males initiate courtship, and once a pair bond is set, the couple will look for a nesting site.  American coots generally build floating nests on the water so they have to constantly add to them to keep them floating.  Females normally do most of the building.  American coots build three general types of structures: display platforms, egg nests, and brood nests.  Display platforms are used as roosting sites and are abandoned after copulation.  Egg nests have a ramp that allows the coots to enter and exit without messing up the sides of the nest.  Brood nests are larger egg nests used after the eggs hatch.  Females lay one egg per day until the clutch is complete.

American coots sometimes use a strategy called brood parasitism, where the female coot lays her eggs in another female’s nest, relying on the host to raise the young.  This is typically done by females who do not have their own territory or nest.  Other females may use this strategy if their eggs are destroyed by predators.  It is most commonly used by females who are trying to increase their total number of offspring.  American coots can recognize eggs that are not their own and may reject them if they choose.

American coots dive for food, but also forage and scavenge on land.  They are omnivorous, eating plant material, fish, and other aquatic animals.  Coots prefer aquatic vegetation, especially algae.  During the breeding season, coots are more likely to feed upon higher protein aquatic insects and mollusks, which is needed for a growing chick and to replenish reserves lost by the mother during egg production.

American coots are common, widespread, and sometimes even considered pests.  Their meat is not considered to be as good as ducks, so they are not commonly targeted by hunters.  However, some coots are shot for sport, particularly in the southeastern United States.

Special Notes:

In Arkansas, American coots can be seen year-round on all seven of Bella Vista’s lakes.  Many birdwatchers love to see these birds in their natural habitats and watch their synchronized swimming patterns or other formations.