Here’s a full overview of the Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), a common yet fascinating waterbird found across Europe, Asia, and beyond:

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)

Taxonomy & Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Gruiformes
• Family: Rallidae (Rails, crakes, and coots)
• Genus: Fulica
• Species: F. atra
• Common names: Eurasian Coot, Common Coot

General Description

• Size: 36–42 cm long; wingspan 70–80 cm.
• Weight: 600–1,000 g.
• Appearance:
  • Plumage entirely blackish-grey, appearing sooty or charcoal-colored.
  • Distinctive white facial shield and bill, giving rise to the phrase “as bald as a coot.”
  • Red eyes and lobed (not webbed) toes for efficient swimming.
• Sexes: Similar in appearance; males slightly larger.
• Juveniles: Paler grey with duller bill and smaller facial shield.

Behavior & Lifestyle

• Activity: Diurnal and highly active; strong swimmers and divers.
• Flight: Strong but labored takeoff, requiring a long running start over water.
• Social behavior:
  • Gregarious outside the breeding season—often in large flocks on lakes and reservoirs.
  • Territorial during breeding; fierce fighters, using feet and wings to defend nests.
• Vocalizations: Loud, harsh “kow-kow” or “kew-kew” calls—often repeated during disputes or contact calls.

Diet

• Omnivorous:
  • Plants: Aquatic vegetation, algae, reeds, pondweeds.
  • Animals: Small invertebrates, mollusks, insect larvae, crustaceans, and occasionally small fish or amphibians.
  • Feeding methods: Dives underwater or picks food from the surface and margins; sometimes steals food from ducks or other coots.

Breeding & Life Cycle

• Breeding season: April to August, depending on latitude.
• Nesting:
  • Large floating platform built from reeds and vegetation, anchored among aquatic plants or near banks.
  • Constructed by both sexes.
• Clutch size: 6–10 eggs.
• Incubation: 21–24 days by both parents.
• Chicks:
  • Downy black with bright red-orange heads and blue bills at hatching.
  • Fed by parents for about 4 weeks, then gradually become independent.
• Broods: Often 1–2 per season; replacement clutches possible if earlier ones fail.

Habitat

• Found in freshwater lakes, ponds, slow rivers, marshes, reservoirs, and estuaries.
• Prefers open water with emergent vegetation.
• In winter, can also occupy brackish or coastal waters.

Geographic Range

• Breeding range: Across Europe, North Africa, and most of temperate Asia east to Japan.
• Wintering range: Migratory in northern regions—moves south to North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
• Introduced populations: Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Indonesia.

Ecological Role

• Herbivore and omnivore: Helps control aquatic plant growth.
• Prey species: Eggs and chicks eaten by large gulls, herons, raptors, and carnivorous mammals.
• Indicator: Healthy coot populations suggest productive wetland ecosystems.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
• Population trend: Stable or increasing in many areas; adapts well to human-modified habitats.
• Threats:
  • Habitat degradation and wetland drainage.
  • Pollution and eutrophication affecting aquatic vegetation.
  • Disturbance during nesting.
• Conservation measures: Wetland protection and management ensure healthy populations.

Interesting Facts

• The white frontal shield is a display feature—larger and brighter in dominant individuals.
• Coots are highly aggressive toward intruders during the breeding season, often chasing or pecking rivals.
• They are capable of diving for up to 20 seconds in search of food.
• Juvenile mortality is high, often due to sibling competition and parental selection—adults may reduce broods if food is scarce.
• Despite their ungainly look on land, they are powerful swimmers and fliers.

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