American Coot (Fulica americana) lives in freshwater wetlands across North America. It feeds on aquatic plants insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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During breeding, females lay one egg each night, building clutches of 8-12 eggs; early-season nests average 9.0 eggs while late-season nests drop to about 6.4. Both parents share incubation, but males do most of the work over the 21-day period, ensuring the brood hatches in synchrony with the laying order.
Conspecific brood parasitism is common: a four-year study found 40 % of nests were parasitized and 13 % of all eggs were laid by females in nests that weren't theirs. This strategy lets floater females boost their reproductive output without defending a territory, while host coots can recognize and reject foreign chicks, a rare ability among birds.
American coots migrate vast distances, wintering as far south as Panama and even reaching Greenland and Iceland in spring. Their range stretches from the Pacific and southwestern United States year-round to northeastern breeding grounds in summer, showing how flexible they are in both freshwater and occasional salt-water habitats.
A coot can outlive most backyard birds, with one individual recorded at 22 years old, far beyond the average nine-year lifespan noted for the species. Such longevity hints at the bird's flexible diet and adaptable wetland habitat.
Measuring 34-43 cm (13-17 in) long with a 58-to-71 cm (23-to-28 in) wingspan, adult coots weigh 427-628 g (0.94-1.39 lb) in females and 576-848 g (1.27-1.87 lb) in males.
Sources
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As the American Coot glides effortlessly across the water, its slate-grey plumage glistens in the sunlight, while its distinctive white bill and crimson eyes seem to gleam with a quiet confidence. With a gentle kick of its lobed feet, it propels itself through the aquatic landscape, its movements a masterclass in understated elegance, as it weaves between the reeds and water lilies with the precision of a seasoned navigator. In this serene and idyllic world, the American Coot reigns supreme, a humble yet captivating monarch of the marshes and wetlands.
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