In this video, we learn about the Eurasian coot.
Quick facts:
• Lifespan: 5 years (average)
• Average size: 37cm (14.5 in)
• Average weight: 820g (28.5 oz)
• Average wingspan: 75cm (29.5 in)
• Family: Rallidae
Description:
The Eurasian coot is a small black bird with a striking white bill and facial shield between the eyes. It has long grey legs and long, partially webbed toes. Males and females are nearly identical. The young are paler than the adults, with bare, reddish faces. They lack the white facial shield.
Vocalizations:
Eurasian coots are highly vocal, especially at night. They have a wide range of vocalizations, including loud, crackling, and trumpeting calls.
Distribution:
Eurasian coots are native to Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, and more recently, their range expanded to New Zealand. Populations in the colder climates of Northern Europe and Asia migrate south for the winter.
Habitat:
Coots inhabit still freshwater habitats such as lakes, ponds, and wetlands.
Diet:
Eurasian coots feed on land as well as in water. They are omnivorous, although they mostly eat plant matter. They also feed on fish, insects, and other small invertebrates. They may also prey on the eggs of other bird species.
Reproduction:
They build their nests in shallow waters. It is made up of plant materials such as stems and leaves and lined with soft grasses. Females lay up to ten speckled eggs. The incubation period lasts around 22 days, and the nestlings fledge at around 60 days.
Coots are also intra-specific brood parasites in that they often lay their eggs in the nests of other coots, depending on physical and environmental conditions.
Conservation:
The Eurasian coot is offered some protection by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
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