Migration of the American Coot

by Elizabeth Winter

Title

Migration of the American Coot

Artist

Elizabeth Winter

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Out by the Platte River in the middle of farmer fields is this beautiful lake. It must of had 500 american coots eating and swimming one evening. Of course that was the evening I didn't have my camera. I went out the next evening and most were gone, but there were still quite a few!

The American Coot (Fulica americana) (a.k.a. mud hen) is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken to be ducks, American Coots belong to a distinct order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step in order to facilitate walking on dry land.[2] Coots live near water, typically inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies in North America. Groups of coots are called covers or rafts. The oldest known coot lived to be 22 years old.[2]

The American Coot is a migratory bird that occupies most of North America. It lives in the Pacific and southwestern United States and Mexico year-round and occupies more northeastern regions during the summer breeding season. In the winter they can be found as far south as Panama.[2] Coots generally build floating nests and lay 8–12 eggs per clutch.[2] Females and males have similar appearances, but they can be distinguished during aggressive displays by the larger ruff (head plumage) on the male.[3] American Coots eat primarily algae and other aquatic plants but also animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates) when available.

Uploaded

April 12th, 2014

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