American coot

Also known as a "mudhen" and not as timid as the similar Moorhen.

The adult Coot stands about one foot tall and has a wingspan of about two feet and a short tail. Both the male and female Coot have similar plumage. They show a black head and neck Their beak is very thick with dark reddish ring just before the tip and often observed both swimming and walking. While walking on land it bobs it white tail. The coot's toes have webbing making the bird a strong swimmer, especially in open water. Their neck, back and chests show black and their stomach has a grey coloring.

Nestlings- The newly hatched birds display a thick, black down on their head and back. The newborn has an exposed crown, blue eyes and black legs.

The young birds look like the adults, except lighter in color. The juvenile Coots beak may lack the reddish ring near tip. The Coot inhabits marshes and ponds in most of Canada and the United States.

Around May and June when the Coot becomes romantic and time to mate the action begins with big show. Both the male and female Coot begins a display of themselves to each other. They chirp to one another and splash about while in the water. The breeding actions start on the water and ends on the land. The female Coot takes a submissive attitude as an invitation to the male for sex and keeps this position while mating.

The male and female Coots work together to build a nest. The location of the nest is at the edge of the reeds by the edge of the pond. All nests slant into the water for easier access for the young coots.

After mating the female Coot lays about nine pink colored eggs with brown spots. Both the male and female take turns keeping the eggs incubated until they hatch in about 3 1/2 weeks. Both parents share the feeding and teaching the young. The Coot prefers wetlands near open water for breeding. In about seven to eight weeks the juvenile Coots begin to fly. Normally the Coot has only one brood each year. Sometimes you will see them have a second brood.

Soon after hatching and drying the chicks follow parents for food and they swim well at this very early age. About thirty days after hatching the young can dive for their own food and

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