American coots, also known as marsh hens or mud hens, are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family Rallidae. They are shy aquatic birds and powerful swimmers that live in a variety of wetland habitats in North America.
Quick Facts about American Coots
Here are some quick facts about American coots:
- Scientific name: Fulica americana
- Size: 12.6–15.8 inches long, wingspan of 20–27 inches
- Identifying features: Slaty gray body, white bill, frontal shield on forehead
- Habitat: Ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers
- Diet: Omnivorous – aquatic plants, snails, insects, fish, seeds
- Behavior: Excellent swimmer and diver, runs across water to take off
- Breeding: Nests built of aquatic vegetation, lay 5–12 eggs
- Conservation status: Least concern
What Family are American Coots From?
American coots belong to the family Rallidae which includes rails, gallinules, and crakes. Some of their closest relatives within this family include:
Other Coot Species
There are 11 species of coots in the genus Fulica. Close relatives of the American coot include:
- Eurasian Coot – Fulica atra
- Hawaiian Coot – Fulica alai
- Caribbean Coot – Fulica caribaea
- Red-gartered Coot – Fulica armillata
- Red-knobbed Coot – Fulica cristata
Rails
Rails are in the genus Rallus and include species like:
- Virginia Rail – Rallus limicola
- King Rail – Rallus elegans
- Clapper Rail – Rallus crepitans
- Yellow Rail – Coturnicops noveboracensis
Gallinules
Gallinules are in the genus Gallinula and include:
- Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
- Azure Gallinule – Porphyrio flavirostris
- Allen’s Gallinule – Porphyrio alleni
Crakes
Crakes are in the genus Porzana and include:
- Spotted Crake – Porzana porzana
- Sora – Porzana carolina
- Little Crake – Zapornia parva
- Ruddy Crake – Zapornia fusca
Differences Between Coots and Other Rail Relatives
While American coots are related to rails, gallinules, and crakes, there are some key physical differences:
Bird | Characteristics |
---|---|
American Coot |
|
Rails |
|
Gallinules |
|
Crakes |
|
The unique adaptations of coots include their lobed feet for swimming and diving underwater as well as the white frontal shield on the forehead. Rails tend to inhabit dense marshes, while gallinules prefer open water areas with floating vegetation. Crakes are very secretive and elusive.
Scientific Classification
Here is the scientific classification of American coots to show their evolutionary relationships:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Gruiformes
- Family: Rallidae
- Genus: Fulica
- Species: Fulica americana
This places American coots in the same order as cranes, rails, and limpkins (Gruiformes). Within the family Rallidae, coots are most closely related to gallinules.
Habitat and Range
American coots are found across North America in a variety of wetland habitats including:
- Ponds
- Marshes
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Reservoirs
- Coastal areas
They breed predominantly in the Midwestern states and Canada during the summer months. In winter, they migrate down to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. On the Pacific Coast, some coots remain year-round in wetlands and estuaries.
Behavior and Ecology
American coots have a number of interesting behaviors and adaptations for their aquatic lifestyle:
- Excellent swimmers and divers using their lobed feet to propel through water
- Can dive underwater to depths of around 10 feet to forage
- Omnivorous diet of plants, insects, fish, mollusks
- Nest is a haphazard pile of vegetation built at water’s edge
- Females lay 5-12 eggs with an incubation of 23-27 days
- Both parents feed and care for the precocial chicks
- Male coots defend breeding territories from other males
- Gregarious outside of breeding season, forming large winter flocks
American coots face threats from habitat loss and degradation, water pollution, and disturbance of nesting sites. Climate change and drought also put pressure on the wetland habitats they rely on.
Relationship with Humans
American coots are hunted as gamebirds in some areas and populations remain sustainable. They have also benefited from the creation of artificial wetlands and reservoirs that provide habitat.
Coots are occasionally kept as novelty pets, though this is discouraged as they are wild birds unsuited to captivity. They can become tame around humans who regularly feed them.
Birdwatchers enjoy observing the behaviors of American coots in the wild and appreciate their comical swimming style. Most interactions with coots are through birding activities.
Interesting Facts
- American coots are also called mud hens due to probing in the mud for food.
- Coot eggs are colored reddish brown to mimic vegetation for camouflage from predators.
- Chicks have bright orange and red feathers on their heads for parents to identify them.
- Coots are sometimes blamed by anglers for depleted fishing spots but impacts are negligible.
- They use their wings to “run” across the water’s surface during takeoff.
- American coots have been recorded living up to 17 years in the wild.
- They are susceptible to botulism outbreaks during low water levels.
- Coots can become flightless during molting when they shed old wing feathers.
Conclusion
In summary, American coots are unique aquatic birds closely related to other marsh-dwelling species like rails and gallinules. They inhabit a variety of wetlands across North America and exhibit fascinating behaviors and adaptations for their habitat. Coots occupy an important ecological niche as part of wetland food chains. Though they sometimes come into conflict with humans, most interactions are neutral or positive. Their comical antics and social nature make them fun birds to observe in the wild for birders and nature enthusiasts.