Bird Guide

Red-fronted Coot vs Red-knobbed Coot

Red-fronted Coot (Fulica rufifrons)

Red-fronted Coot

Fulica rufifrons

Large644 gWetland

The red-fronted coot is 38 to 43 cm (15 to 17 in) long. Male specimens can weigh between 685 and 735 g (24 and 26 oz) and females can weigh around 550 g (19 oz). The sexes are alike. Adults have a yellow bill, a dark chestnut-red frontal shield, and olive legs and feet. Unique among coots, their feet are not lobed. Their plumage is almost entirely dark slate gray except for white undertail coverts. Juveniles have a blackish bill, white spots on the throat, and gray-brown plumage with the same white undertail coverts as adults. Voice: The red-fronted coot makes a "long, chattering series of calls, described as 'togo togo togo..., cu cu cu..., puhúh puhúh puhúh...', etc." It also has a "tuc" alarm call.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: nebrooks · CC BY 4.0
Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Large826 gWetland

The red-knobbed coot is largely black except for the white frontal shield. It is 35–42 cm (14–17 in) long, spans 75–85 cm (30–33 in) across the wings. Males weigh 770–910 g (27–32 oz), females are slightly smaller and weigh 455–790 g (16.0–27.9 oz). The sexes are alike. As a swimming species, it has partial webbing on its long strong toes. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult's black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old, some time later.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Red-knobbed Coot
Recorded by Joost van Bruggen · Flight call · Área Metropolitana de Sevilla (near Isla Mayor), Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa · CC BY 2.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Red-fronted Coot and Red-knobbed Coot.