The American Coot (Fulica americana) is a species of waterbird commonly found across North America. This dark gray-colored bird with a white bill is known by several other names regionally across its range. Here we explore some of the other common names used for the American Coot.
Regional Names for the American Coot
While American Coot is the most widespread and officially recognized name for this species, regionally it goes by a variety of colloquial names. These names often originate from the bird’s appearance, behavior, or habitat.
Mud Hen
One of the most common nicknames for the American Coot is the Mud Hen. This name refers to the bird’s preference for muddy, vegetated wetlands and its drab gray-brown plumage which often appears dirtied. The name Mud Hen is used across much of the Eastern and Midwestern United States.
Crow Duck
In some areas of the Eastern U.S., the American Coot is known as the Crow Duck. This name comes from the bird’s dark coloration resembling that of a crow combined with it being a waterfowl species like a duck. When taking flight, the white undertail feathers are visible much like a duck.
Bluebill
Bluebill is a regional name used in parts of California and some other western states. It refers to the bird’s blue-gray bill and frontal shield which stands out against its overall dark plumage.
Marsh Hen
Another descriptive moniker, Marsh Hen, points to the American Coot’s favored marsh habitat. Nesting and foraging in freshwater marshes across North America, this is an apt nickname heard in some locales.
White-billed Coot
White-billed Coot is a more formal, scientific name used regionally to distinguish this species from the Eurasian Coot which shares much of the same breeding range but has a red bill shield. The white bill of the American Coot separates it.
Origin of the Name American Coot
The term “Coot” refers to a grouping of marsh-dwelling rail and waterfowl species worldwide that share some physical and behavioral traits. They tend to have round, plump bodies, short tails, large colorful bills and feet adapted to aquatic vegetation.
The earliest recorded usage of the name American Coot is from the early 19th century during the era of early ornithological catalogs and surveys of North American birds. The term references the species’ geographic range encapsulated in America, as opposed to the Eurasian Coot found across Europe and Asia.
Scientific Classification
The American Coot belongs to the family Rallidae of marsh-inhabiting birds. Its full scientific name is Fulica americana. This species was first scientifically described by the prominent ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1817.
Nicknames from Appearance
Many of the American Coot’s regional nicknames originate from its distinctive physical appearance. Key traits that lend themselves to descriptive monikers include:
- Dark gray and black plumage
- White bill and frontal shield
- Red eyes
- White undertail feathers
- Large greenish-yellow feet
Names like Mud Hen, Crow Duck, Marsh Hen, and Bluebill directly describe the coot’s color patterns. Other names like Pied-billed Grebe compare it to similar waterbird species.
Nicknames from Behavior
In addition to appearance, the American Coot’s habits and behavior also factor into some regional nicknames. A few examples include:
Fluster Duck
Fluster Duck refers to the coot’s habit of flapping and splashing across the water’s surface when flushed or startled. It will run and flap across the water before taking flight.
Nuisance
Some may know the American Coot as the Nuisance for its tendency to hog resources and overwhelm habitat, as large numbers of coots may congregate. This points to its sometimes pest-like abundance.
Skidder
Skidder refers to the coot’s ability to skid and skip across the water’s surface during takeoff thanks to its large feet and wings adapted for aquatic mobility.
Habitat-Inspired Nicknames
As a wetland-dependent species, many of the American Coot’s regional nicknames make note of its favored marshy habitats. Some examples include:
- Pond Hen
- Meadow Hen
- Marsh Coot
- Swamp Hen
- Bog Hen
These habitat-based nicknames point to the species’ reliance on inland freshwater ponds, marshes, wet meadows, swamps and other dense, vegetated wetland ecosystems.
Table of Regional Names
Nickname | Region | Origin |
---|---|---|
Mud Hen | Eastern & Midwestern U.S. | Muddy wetland habitat |
Crow Duck | Eastern U.S. | Appearance |
Bluebill | Western U.S. | Bill coloration |
Marsh Hen | U.S. nationwide | Marsh habitat |
White-billed Coot | Western North America | Bill coloration |
This table summarizes some of the more distinctive regional nicknames for the American Coot along with where they are used and what aspects of the bird’s ecology they describe.
Conclusion
In summary, the American Coot is known by many colorful colloquial names that vary across its widespread range. These names most often originate from the bird’s physical appearance such as plumage coloration, bill traits, and flashing undertail feathers. Habitat preferences and behavioral qualities also factor into regional nicknames referencing the species’ marshy surroundings and aquatic habits. While not its official name, these local monikers reflect the familiarity many communities have with the American Coot as a conspicuous wetland bird.