American coot

American coot
American coot in New York City
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Gruiformes
Family:	Rallidae
Genus:	Fulica
Species:	F. americana
Binomial name
Fulica americana Gmelin, JF, 1789
Breeding range   Winter-only range   Year-round range   Passage
Synonyms
Fulica hesterna Howard, 1963 and see text

The American coot (Fulica americana), also known as a mud hen or pouldeau, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step to facilitate walking on dry land.^[2] Coots live near water, typically inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies in North America. Groups of coots are called covers^[3] or rafts.^[2] The oldest known coot lived to be 22 years old.^[2]

The American coot is a migratory bird that occupies most of North America. It lives in the Pacific and southwestern United States and Mexico year-round and occupies more northeastern regions during the summer breeding season. In the winter they can be found as far south as Panama.^[2] Coots generally build floating nests and lay 8–12 eggs per clutch.^[2] Females and males have similar appearances, but they can be distinguished during aggressive displays by the larger ruff (head plumage) on the male.^[4] American coots eat primarily algae and other aquatic plants but also animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates) when available.^[5]

The American coot is closely related to the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), which occupies the same ecological niche in Eurasia and Australia as the American coot does in North America.^{[citation needed]} Eurasian coots can be distinguished from this species by the absence of a red callus above the bird's frontal shield.^{[citation needed]}

The American coot is listed as “Least Concern” under the IUCN conservation ratings.^[1] Hunters generally avoid killing American coots because their meat is not as sought after as that of ducks.^[2]

American coots display several interesting breeding habits; mothers will preferentially feed offspring with the brightest plume feathers, which has resulted in coot chicks having brightly ornamented plumage which becomes drabber as they age.^[6][7] American coots are also susceptible to conspecific brood parasitism and have evolved mechanisms to differentiate their offspring from those of parasitic females.^[8]