General

Eurasian Coot: Medium-sized, squat marsh bird, all black with white bill and frontal shield. Eye-rings are red and legs are yellow-gray. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is dusky gray overall.

Range and Habitat

Eurasian Coot: Ranges from Eurasia to Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. Birds have also recently transported themselves to New Zealand, and the species is quickly becoming established. Very rarely appears in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska, Newfoundland and Labrador. Found in slow moving fresh or coastal waters.

Breeding and Nesting

Eurasian Coot: Nesting territories in ponds and marshes vigorously defended against other coots. Male brings plant stems and leaves to female who builds bulky floating nest amid marsh vegetation. Lays two to twelve white spotted, buff to gray eggs that both parents incubate for 21 to 24 days. Both parents care for young, but may split up brood and care for them separately. Young fly when 60 days old.

Foraging and Feeding

Eurasian Coot: Paddles casually in slow moving waters, pecking at bits of vegetation, seeds, and insects, Will dive for clams and other invertebrates. Regularly comes ashore to feed on grasses and seeds on land.

Vocalization

Eurasian Coot: Loud quarrelous "kowk."

Similar Species

Eurasian Coot: American Coot has white undertail coverts and red marks on bill.