The American coot (Fulica americana) is a common waterbird found across North America. It belongs to the rail family and is closely related to moorhens and gallinules. American coots build floating nests in wetlands and lay eggs in the spring. The chicks that hatch from these eggs are known as “cooties” or “cootlets”. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about American coot babies including what they are called, their appearance, behavior and development from hatching to fledging. Keep reading to learn more about these charismatic little waterbirds!
What are baby American coots called?
American coot chicks go by a few common names including:
- Cooties
- Cootlets
- Coot chicks
Cooties and cootlets are the most frequently used terms to describe baby American coots. They help distinguish the young of this species from other types of waterfowl.
Appearance of cooties
Cooties are covered in black down feathers when they first hatch. They have bright red or orange featherless heads and necks. This distinct coloring helps the parents identify and feed the chicks. Their eyes are open at hatching.
Cooties have feet with long toes perfect for walking on floating vegetation. The toes have scalloped lobes that provide extra surface area and help the chicks move across aquatic plants.
Within a day or two, the chick’s head and neck feathers begin to grow in gray. After about 3 weeks, they achieve juvenile plumage which resembles duller versions of the adult’s black feathers and white undertail.
Some key identification features of cooties include:
- Bright reddish heads and necks (for the first few days)
- Black downy bodies
- Large feet with lobes
- Open eyes at hatching
- Rapid development of gray feathers
Behavior of American coot chicks
Cooties are precocial meaning they are mobile and relatively independent soon after hatching. Here are some interesting behavioral notes about American coot babies:
- Able to swim and dive right away
- Feed themselves by picking food items from parents’ bills
- Often ride on the backs of adults for warmth, protection and transportation
- Preen often to waterproof and maintain their feathers
- aggregates into crèches containing multiple broods
The chicks start swimming immediately after hatching but often rest and feed while riding on the backs of their parents. After a few weeks, they form social groups called “crèches” that contain a mix of different broods being cared for by various adults from the colony. This species exhibits cooperative brood rearing where birds help care for young that are not their own.
Development from hatching to fledging
American coot chicks grow and develop rapidly from the time they hatch until they are ready to leave the nest at around 60-70 days old. Here is an overview of their development:
0-5 days old
Newly hatched cooties focus on staying warm and getting food from their parents. Critical development in thermoregulation and waterproofing of down occur. Bright reddish coloring on the head and neck starts to fade as gray feathers grow in.
5-14 days old
Chicks start swimming more frequently away from the nest but still rely heavily on parents for food and protection. Socialization with other broods begins and crèches start to form. Plumage remains predominantly downy but tail and wing feathers begin to emerge.
2-4 weeks old
The chicks look essentially like miniature adults at this point with full juvenile plumage. They are very active foragers, swimmers and divers. Cooties no longer require constant parental care and protection. Crèche groups provide social stimulation.
4-6 weeks old
Fully feathered juveniles expand their foraging territory away from the nest. Flight feather development allows short flights by around 6 weeks. Interactions with parents decrease as the chicks gain independence.
6-10 weeks old
Young coots start flying fairly competently and have the skills to survive on their own away from the breeding wetlands. They disperse at approximately 60-70 days old at the peak of summer.
Comparison to baby coots from other species
The American coot is just one of 11 living coot species worldwide. Here’s how American cooties compare to chicks of some other coot species:
Eurasian Coot
- Lighter reddish skin color on head/neck
- White tipped feathers on back
- Slightly smaller size
Hawaiian Coot
- Darker gray feathers
- Smaller size than American coots
- Shorter fledging period (by 2 weeks)
Caribbean Coot
- All black downy feathers
- Orange facial skin
- Small white undertail patch
Overall, the characteristics of American coot babies align closely with those of their Eurasian counterparts. Cooties around the world appear remarkably similar despite some subtle variation in size, coloration and development rates.
Key Facts
- Baby American coots are called “cooties” or “cootlets”
- They have reddish heads and necks when first hatched
- Cooties are precocial and can swim right away
- They form social crèche groups for protection
- It takes 60-70 days to fully fledge and fly
FAQs
What do baby coots eat?
Cooties eat small aquatic invertebrates either foraged themselves or fed to them by the parents. Their diet includes insects, insect larvae, snails, crustaceans and tadpoles. Adults also bring them small pieces of aquatic vegetation.
How many eggs does a coot lay?
The typical clutch size for American coots is 5-12 eggs with an average of around 9. Clutch size varies based on the age of the female with first-time breeders laying fewer eggs.
Do baby coots stay with their parents?
Coot families usually remain together until the chicks are almost ready to fledge at around 2 months old. The parents actively care for the young for the first 3-4 weeks until the chicks have matured enough to become more independent.
Why do coots ride on their parents’ backs?
Sitting on the adults’ backs allows the chicks to rest, stay warm, avoid predators and get free transportation around the wetland habitat. It also helps reinforce the family bond between parents and offspring.
Are baby coots born with the ability to swim?
Yes, cooties have innate swimming abilities right from hatching. Their lobed feet and waterproof down allow them to dive and propel themselves through the water effectively as soon as they leave the nest.
Conclusion
In summary, American coot babies are referred to as cooties or cootlets. They are precocial chicks that can swim from birth and form social crèches for protection. Within their first two months, cooties grow flight feathers and learn to forage independently until they are ready to leave the nest site. Cooties share many similarities with the chicks of other coot species but have some distinguishing features like reddish colored heads and necks when newly hatched. Learning about the development, behavior and characteristics of American coot babies provides fascinating insight into the lives of these ubiquitous wetland birds.