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Fulica americana
American Coot
Florida native
A common bird of freshwater wetlands year-round throughout much of the peninsula and the panhandle in the winter. The range includes most of the United States, year-round or winter in the southern states, extending into the midwest and Canada during the summer.
Appearing somewhat duck-like, but with a bill like moorhens and gallinules, and lacking webbed feet. Stocky, smaller than most ducks and floats high on the water. The color is dark gray to black with a white bill. Adults have red eyes and a small deep-red patch on the forehead that is usually only noticeable at close range.
Coots eat mostly aquatic vegetation, including algae, but occasionally feed on small insects, crustaceans, snails and more.
Fulica americana is a member of the Rallidae - Rails & Coots family.
iNaturalist profile for this species
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds page for this species
Date record last modified: Jun 10, 2025
