Bird Guide

Red-fronted Coot vs White-winged 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
White-winged Coot (Fulica leucoptera)

White-winged Coot

Fulica leucoptera

Large656 gWetland

The white-winged coot is 35 to 43 cm (14 to 17 in) long and weighs about 400 to 600 g (14 to 21 oz). The sexes are alike. Adults have a yellow to greenish yellow bill and a small yellow to orange-yellow frontal shield, though these colors may further vary. Their legs and feet are pale sea green to yellow-green and have blackish toes and joints. Their plumage is slaty gray that is blacker on the head and neck. They have white undertail coverts, and wide white tips on the secondaries provide the English name. Voice: The white-winged coot is very vocal, making a "variety of loud, hollow cackling calls and clucking notes" some of which sound like human laughter. Aggressive males make a "huc" call.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Dario Niz · CC BY 3.0

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