American coots are small, duck-like waterbirds that are commonly found across North America. They have dark plumage, reddish eyes, and a white bill with a black band near the tip. American coots can be found in ponds, lakes, marshes and other wetlands year-round. While they may look similar to ducks at first glance, American coots have some key distinguishing features that can help identify them.
What do American coots look like?
American coots are all dark gray to black in color with a slightly paler head and neck. Their plumage is short and dense with a silky texture. They have a rounded head shape and reddish eyes. One of the most distinguishing features of American coots are their white bills which have a black band near the tip, giving them an almost two-toned look. Their legs are greenish-black and their feet have distinctive lobed toes.
In terms of size, American coots measure 13-17 inches in length with a wingspan around 23-29 inches. They weigh between 11-26 ounces on average. Males and females have identical plumage. Juvenile coots have a gray head and neck with some brown tones mixed in until they molt into adult plumage by fall.
Key Identification Features
– Solid black plumage with a paler head and neck
– White bill with black band near tip
– Reddish eyes
– Greenish-black legs and lobed feet
– Juveniles have some brown tones mixed in
How is the American coot different from a duck?
While they share a habitat and may look somewhat similar in profile, American coots are not ducks. There are some key differences to note when comparing coots and ducks:
Body Shape
Coots have a thinner, more elongated profile than plump-bodied ducks. Their necks and heads also protrude more than those of ducks.
Plumage
Coots have primarily black plumage while ducks often have more colorful and patterned feathers like greens, browns, blues, and whites. Coot feathers are also shorter and denser.
Beaks
The white bill with a black band is unique to coots. Duck bills come in a wide range of colors and sizes based on species but none have that distinctly two-toned look.
Feet
Coots have greenish lobes on their toes that help them swim and walk on vegetation. Duck feet are webbed but do not have lobes.
Feature | American Coot | Duck |
---|---|---|
Body shape | Elongated | Plump |
Plumage | Dark gray/black | Colorful patterns |
Beak | White with black band | Variety of colors |
Feet | Lobed toes | Webbed feet |
Where do American coots live?
American coots reside year-round across much of North America. They can be found from southern Canada through the United States and down into Central America. Their breeding habitat centers around small ponds, lakes, marshes and wetlands that have plenty of vegetation. During the non-breeding season, they may be found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats.
American coots tend to prefer calm, inland bodies of water with plenty of plants to hide in and walk on. Areas with dense emergent vegetation like cattails, bulrushes and pond lilies suit them well. You may spot them floating out in open water but they don’t spend much time swimming and diving like ducks.
Range and Habitats
– Found year-round across North America
– Breed near ponds, lakes, marshes, wetlands
– Forage in freshwater and saltwater habitats
– Prefer calm water with abundant vegetation
What do American coots eat?
American coots are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of plant and animal matter. Their diet consists of:
Aquatic Plants
Coots will graze extensively on aquatic plants like algae, weeds, grass shoots. Favorite vegetation includes duckweed, water lilies, pondweed, widgeon grass, eelgrass and wild celery.
Insects
They eat insects like flies, beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, mayflies, caddisflies. They capture insects from vegetation as well as the water’s surface.
Mollusks
Coots will consume small aquatic snails and mussels.
Fish Eggs
Fish eggs from species like sunfish, perch and bass may supplement a coot’s diet, especially during breeding season.
Seeds
In agricultural areas, coots may feed heavily on rice, barley, corn, wheat, oats and other grains.
Human Food
Where accessible, coots will readily accept human food offerings like bread, popcorn or crackers. This supplemental feeding helps them through harsh winters.
How do American coots behave?
American coots have some interesting behaviors and mannerisms that are worth noting:
Territoriality
– Coots are aggressive and territorial towards other coots, especially during breeding season. They will fight using their lobed feet and sharp beaks.
Nesting
– They build large nests anchored to marsh vegetation out of available wetland plants. Nests may be repaired and reused year after year.
Parenting
– Coot parents fiercely defend eggs and young against potential threats. Newly hatched chicks ride on their parents’ backs for safety and warmth.
Migration
– Northern populations migrate south for winter while southern populations are mostly year-round residents. Migrating flocks called “rafts” can number in the thousands.
Vocalizations
– Coots have a wide repertoire of calls and sounds including low croaks, sharp shrieks, trills and grunts.
Swimming Style
– They swim awkwardly with their head bobbing up and down, sometimes using their wings to help propel them.
How do you identify American coot eggs and chicks?
Identifying American coot eggs and chicks takes some careful observation. Here’s what to look for:
Eggs
Coot eggs are creamy white or pale buff in color with a fine grainy texture. They are elliptical ovals that measure 1.6-2 inches long and 1.1-1.4 inches wide. Clutches contain 5-12 eggs on average that the parents incubate for 23-27 days.
Chicks
Newly hatched coot chicks have black down feathers and reddish heads. They often ride on their parents’ backs for safety and warmth. Within a few weeks, they develop gray plumage but may still have some reddish tones on the head and neck. It takes about 3 months for them to fully develop adult plumage.
How do you tell an American coot from a common gallinule?
The common gallinule is another dark waterbird that shares wetland habitat with the American coot. While they look very similar, there are some key differences:
Bill Color
Coots have a white bill while gallinules have a red-tipped yellow bill. This is the most obvious difference.
Plumage
Gallinules have darker plumage on their back and wings that contrasts more noticeably with their paler underparts. Coots look uniformly dark all over.
Leg Color
Gallinules have bright chicken-like yellow legs while coot legs are gray-green.
Tail Shape
The gallinule’s tail angles up slightly while the coot’s tail is blunt and square.
So in summary, if you see a uniformly dark waterbird with a white and black bill and greenish legs, it’s most likely an American coot. A yellow-legged, red-billed bird with a contrasting two-tone body is a common gallinule.
Conclusion
Identifying the American coot requires paying attention to subtle details like bill coloration, plumage uniformity, leg color and tail shape that distinguish it from lookalike species. But once you recognize their solid dark profile, that unique white and black banded bill and lobed toes, you’ll be able to readily spot American coots as they swim and forage in wetlands all across North America. Coots have distinctive behaviors and vocalizations that add to the fun of identifying them. With a little practice, birdwatchers can quickly tell American coots from ducks, gallinules and other aquatic birds that share their habitat.