American coot

Scientific name: Fulica americana

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Coots are dark slate-gray to blackish water birds with a distinctive white bill and frontal shield on the face. Adults show lobed toes (not webbed feet) and a compact, chicken-like head; sexes are similar in plumage but males average slightly larger.

Size and weight

Adults typically weigh 280–640 g (0.28–0.64 kg), with body length 34–43 cm. Males average slightly heavier than females.

Habitat

American coots inhabit freshwater marshes, ponds, lakes, and shallow wetlands with emergent vegetation. They prefer areas with open water for diving and dense cattails or reeds for nesting and cover.

Distribution

American coots breed across much of North America from Canada to Central America and winter throughout the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. They are most abundant in freshwater wetlands but occasionally inhabit brackish marshes.

Diet

Coots are omnivorous, feeding on aquatic vegetation, seeds, insects, small fish, and invertebrates; they dabble at the surface and dive in shallow water, with diet shifting more toward plant matter in winter.

Behaviour

Coots are highly social and vocal year-round, often seen in flocks on open water. They are primarily diurnal feeders, moving between roosting sites at dawn and dusk; they run across water when taking off.

Hunting tips

Look for coots in open water edges near emergent vegetation and listen for loud, distinctive calls that reveal their location. Approach from downwind using water-level cover; coots flush readily, so a boat approach along reed lines or wading in shallow water works effectively. Dawn and dusk provide the best shooting as birds move between roosts and feeding areas.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 6 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.