Difference between revisions of "Coot" - New World Encyclopedia

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==Overview and description==
 
==Overview and description==
Coots belong to the family Rallidae, whose members are known collectively as rails, but also includes birds known as crakes and gallinules. The rails are a fairly homogeneous family of small to medium sized ground living birds, although some such as the coots are aquatic. They vary in length from 12 centimeters to 63 centimeters (4.7-25 inches) and in weight from 20 grams to 3000 grams (0.04-6.6 pounds). Some species have long necks and in many cases they are laterally compressed. The bill is the most variable feature within the family: in some species it is longer than the head (like the [[clapper rail]] of the Americas), in others it may be short and wide (as in the [[coot]]s), or massive (as in the [[Porphyrio|purple gallinules]]) (Horsfall and Robinson 2003). Rails exhibit very little sexual dimorphism in either plumage or size.
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Coots belong to the family Rallidae, whose members are known collectively as rails, but also includes birds known as crakes and gallinules. The rails are a fairly homogeneous family of small to medium sized ground living birds, although some such as the coots are more adapted to water environments. Rails vary in length from 12 centimeters to 63 centimeters (4.7-25 inches) and in weight from 20 grams to 3000 grams (0.04-6.6 pounds). Some species have long necks and in many cases they are laterally compressed. The bill is the most variable feature within the family: in some species it is longer than the head (like the [[clapper rail]] of the Americas), in others it may be short and wide (as in the [[coot]]s), or massive (as in the [[Porphyrio|purple gallinules]]) (Horsfall and Robinson 2003). Rails exhibit very little sexual dimorphism in either plumage or size.
 
 
 
 
A few coots and gallinules have a "frontal shield," which is a fleshy rearward extension of the upper bill. The most complex frontal shield is found in the [[horned coot]] (Horsfall and Robinson 2003).
 
 
 
Rails exhibit very little [[sexual dimorphism]] in either [[plumage]] or size.
 
 
 
 
 
  
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Coots comprise the genus ''Fulica'' in Raillidae. As with some of the gallinules, coots tend to have a "frontal shield," which is a fleshy rearward extension of the upper bill, which is flattened and extends to the forehead. The most complex frontal shield is found in the [[horned coot]] (Horsfall and Robinson 2003). Rails also have a short, wide, conical bill, which may be white or colored depending on the species; a black head and neck; and toes that have a lobed membrane that aids them in swimming and moving through marshy areas. They have feet that are a greenish or bluish gray in coloration. Coots tend to have short, rounded wings. Many, but not all, have white on the under tail.
  
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There are about eleven species recognized in this genus. The greatest species variety is in South America, and it is likely that the genus originated there. They are common in Europe and North America. They inhabit larger inland, freshwater lakes, ponds, marshes, and streams, where they are well adapted to swimming and diving for food.
  
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Coots are weak fliers, although northern species are nevertheless capable of covering long distances; the [[American coot]] has reached Great Britain and Ireland on rare occasions. Those species that [[bird migration|migrate]] do so at night.
  
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Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces.
  
The greatest species variety is in South America, and it is likely that the genus originated there. They are common in Europe and North America.{{Fact|article|date=August 2008}}
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These birds are [[omnivorous]], taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and [[Egg (biology)|eggs]]. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer.  
 
 
They have prominent frontal shields or other decoration on the forehead, and coloured bills, and many, but not all, have white on the under tail. Like other rails, they have lobed toes.
 
 
 
They tend to have short, rounded wings and are weak fliers, although northern species are nevertheless capable of covering long distances; the [[American Coot]] has reached Great Britain and Ireland on rare occasions. Those species that [[bird migration|migrate]] do so at night.
 
 
 
Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces.  
 
  
These birds are [[omnivorous]], taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and [[Egg (biology)|eggs]]. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizeable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer. A flock of coots is known in the US as a cover.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baltimorebirdclub.org/gnlist.html | title=Baltimore Bird Club. Group Name for Birds: A Partial List | accessdate=2007-06-03}}</ref>
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A flock of coots is known in the United States as a "cover" (Ross).
  
 
==Species in taxonomic order==  
 
==Species in taxonomic order==  

Revision as of 15:57, 22 January 2009

Coots
Eurasian coot or common coot
Eurasian coot or common coot
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Fulica
Linnaeus, 1758
Species
  • Fulica cristata
  • Fulica atra
  • Fulica alai
  • Fulica americana
  • Fulica caribaea
  • Fulica leucoptera
  • Fulica ardesiaca
  • Fulica armillata
  • Fulica rufifrons
  • Fulica gigantea
  • Fulica cornuta
  • Fulica newtoni (extinct)

For prehistoric species, see article text

Coot is the common name for any of the medium-sized, duck-like aquatic birds comprising the genus Fulica of the rail family Rallidae, characterized by typically dark plumage, toes that are lobed with a membrane, a dark head with a short, wide beak that in many species extends from the base to the forehead as a prominent, flattened, fleshy frontal shield or other decoration on the forehead. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water. They are close relatives of the moorhen.


Overview and description

Coots belong to the family Rallidae, whose members are known collectively as rails, but also includes birds known as crakes and gallinules. The rails are a fairly homogeneous family of small to medium sized ground living birds, although some such as the coots are more adapted to water environments. Rails vary in length from 12 centimeters to 63 centimeters (4.7-25 inches) and in weight from 20 grams to 3000 grams (0.04-6.6 pounds). Some species have long necks and in many cases they are laterally compressed. The bill is the most variable feature within the family: in some species it is longer than the head (like the clapper rail of the Americas), in others it may be short and wide (as in the coots), or massive (as in the purple gallinules) (Horsfall and Robinson 2003). Rails exhibit very little sexual dimorphism in either plumage or size.

Coots comprise the genus Fulica in Raillidae. As with some of the gallinules, coots tend to have a "frontal shield," which is a fleshy rearward extension of the upper bill, which is flattened and extends to the forehead. The most complex frontal shield is found in the horned coot (Horsfall and Robinson 2003). Rails also have a short, wide, conical bill, which may be white or colored depending on the species; a black head and neck; and toes that have a lobed membrane that aids them in swimming and moving through marshy areas. They have feet that are a greenish or bluish gray in coloration. Coots tend to have short, rounded wings. Many, but not all, have white on the under tail.

There are about eleven species recognized in this genus. The greatest species variety is in South America, and it is likely that the genus originated there. They are common in Europe and North America. They inhabit larger inland, freshwater lakes, ponds, marshes, and streams, where they are well adapted to swimming and diving for food.

Coots are weak fliers, although northern species are nevertheless capable of covering long distances; the American coot has reached Great Britain and Ireland on rare occasions. Those species that migrate do so at night.

Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces.

These birds are omnivorous, taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and eggs. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer.

A flock of coots is known in the United States as a "cover" (Ross).

Species in taxonomic order

  • Red-knobbed Coot, Fulica cristata
  • Eurasian Coot, or Common Coot, Fulica atra
  • Hawaiian Coot, Fulica alai
  • American Coot, Fulica americana
  • Caribbean Coot, Fulica caribaea
  • White-winged Coot, Fulica leucoptera
  • Andean Coot, Fulica ardesiaca
  • Red-gartered Coot, Fulica armillata
  • Red-fronted Coot, Fulica rufifrons
  • Giant Coot, Fulica gigantea
  • Horned Coot, Fulica cornuta
  • Mascarene Coot, Fulica newtoni (extinct, c.1700)
  • Chatham Island Coot, Fulica chathamensis (prehistoric)
  • New Zealand Coot, Fulica prisca (prehistoric)
  • Fulica infelix (fossil: Early Pliocene of Juntura, Malheur County, Oregon, USA)
  • Fulica shufeldti (fossil: Pleistocene of North America) - possibly a subspecies of Fulica americana; formerly F. minor

Photo gallery

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Bridgman, A. 2003. "Fulica americana" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 22, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Fulica_americana.html.

  • Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 2006. Fulica Linnaeus, 1758 ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.: 176289. Retrieved January 23, 2009.

Horsfall, Joseph A. & Robinson, Robert (2003): Rails. In: Perrins, Christopher (ed.): Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books.

External links


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