American Coot

Description: With its chunky, dark gray body and black head and neck, the American coot is one of the most familiar wetland birds. It has a distinctive white bill extending all the way up the forehead to form a shield with a black ring near the tip and a white patch on the underside of its tail. The legs are yellowish-orange, while the feet are long and webbed with long, flat toes to aid in swimming. The sexes are similar in appearance. These birds are awkward in flight and takeoff. Average size: 13-16 inches. Average weight: 1-1 ¾ pounds.

Science: Coot breed in southern and western Canada and throughout most of the United States. A large population is found in the prairie pothole region. They migrate in late August, generally flying at night, and winter in most southern and western states and in Mexico. Birds in the southern range do not migrate. They’re found on and around marshes, ponds, lakes, and coastal bays with emergent vegetation. An excellent swimmer, American coot generally forage underwater for aquatic vegetation and occasionally eat snails and insects. They form huge flocks and rafts consisting of hundreds or thousands of birds. These raucous and quarrelsome birds make clucks, croaks, cackles, and grunts. The population is stable.

Hunting: Most birds are taken incidentally by hunters looking for waterfowl, but are occasionally hunted intentionally. Birds are not known to decoy; they are mostly pass-shot or jump shot. The eating quality is fair: the meat can be strong-tasting.