About Those Birds

The American Coot, Fulica americana, is an interesting bird. It’s not exactly a duck or a goose, but it’s more like a rail. However, it’s very easily identifiable because of its coloring and shape.

Identification Features:

Adult

• Males are slightly larger
  
• Short, whitish bill
• Overall grey coloration
• White on trailing edge while flying
• Head and neck are black
• Frontal shield on bill has brownish spot
• Red eyes
• Legs are a greenish yellow

Juvenile

• Duller and paler overall
  
• More whitish underparts
• Dusky colored bill

Voice:

• Grunting and cackling notes
  
• Emphatic puck, croooah, and punk-unk-punk-uh-punk-unk-uh
• Vocal during the day and the night

Range:

Credit: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Conservation Status:

• Least Concern by the IUCN
  

Fun Fact:

• Even though its body is similar to that of a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. It has lobed feet instead.
  

Where I Have Seen It:

• Monterey, CA
  
• North Deer Island, Galveston, TX
• High Island, Bolivar Peninsula, TX

Notice the webbed feet?

Well, there you have the unique American Coot.

‘Till next time – enjoy!

I am planning on doing an quick information series on the birds I have seen in the wild. I believe that it’s a good thing to know a little about a bird and its habitat instead of just writing it down in your field notebook. Yes, I have done that, but now I take a little more time to watch them. I recommend it, but its not necessarily needed, but it may make birding more enjoyable.

I’m starting off with the American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana. It is in the

Recurvirostridae family (I’m a science major, I have to add those).

Identification Features: I know a lot of people would use really technical terms to say where something is on the bird they’re talking about. I don’t. Not that I don’t know them (maybe not), its just that its not very conversational and its too harsh. Therefore, I’m going to be using things like “outer wings” not “primaries.” I think you’ll catch on. Anyway, the American Avocet is a pretty easily identifiable bird, its not those tiny things in the trees. Features include:

• Black and white striped wings (a lot of dominant black on the forewing)
  
• The belly is white
• The long bill curves upward (male’s a bit flatter)
• Grey legs
• Breeding: rusty colored head and neck, white eye ring
• Winter: greyish head and neck
• Juvenile: pale rusty color on head and neck

Voice: loud, piercing “wheet” or “kleep”

Range:

Conservation Status: Least Concern by the IUCN

Now that you have more information go out and see those American Avocets.

‘Till next time – enjoy!