| Fulica | |
|---|---|
 Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) | |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae |
| Genus | Fulica |
Fulica or coots, are medium-sized, crane-like birds that are members of the Rallidae (rail) family. They constitute the genus Fulica. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and—unlike many rails—they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water. They are close relatives of the moorhen.
Description[]
Coots have prominent frontal shields or other decoration on the forehead, with red to dark red eyes and coloured bills. Many, but not all, have white on the under tail. The featherless shield gave rise to the expression "as bald as a coot," which the Oxford English Dictionary cites in use as early as 1430. Like other rails, they have long, lobed toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. Coots have strong legs and can walk and run vigorously. They tend to have short, rounded wings and are weak fliers, though northern species nevertheless can cover long distances.
Distribution and Habitat[]
The greatest species variety occurs in South America, and the genus likely originated there. They are common in Europe and North America. Coot species that migrate do so at night. The American Coot has been observed rarely in Britain and Ireland.
Ecology and Behavior[]
Coots are omnivorous, eating mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizeable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer.
At least some coots have difficulty feeding a large family of hatchlings on the tiny shrimp and insects that they collect. So after about three days they start attacking their own chicks when they beg for food. After a short while, these attacks concentrate on the weaker chicks, who eventually give up begging and die. The coot may eventually raise only two or three out of nine hatchlings.
A group of coots may be referred to as a covert or cover.
Species[]
Hawaiian Coot (Peale, 1848) (Fulica alai) American Coot (Gmelin, 1789) (Fulica americana) Andean Coot (Tschudi, 1843) (Fulica ardesiaca) Red-gartered Coot (Vieillot, 1817) (Fulica armillata) Eurasian Coot (Linnaeus, 1758) (Fulica atra) Caribbean Coot (Ridgway, 1884) (Fulica caribaea) Horned Coot (Bonaparte, 1853) (Fulica cornuta) Red-knobbed Coot (Gmelin, 1789) (Fulica cristata) Giant Coot (Eydoux & Souleyet, 1841) (Fulica gigantea) White-winged Coot (Vieillot, 1817) (Fulica leucoptera) Red-fronted Coot (Philppi & Landbeck, 1861) (Fulica rufifrons)