Eurasian Coot

Fulica atra

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernOmnivoreWetlandPlatform nestLarge · 717 g

What the Eurasian Coot sounds like

Sonogram of the Eurasian Coot: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Grégoire Chauvot · Lidingö, Danderyd Municipality, Stockholms län, Sweden · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Eurasian Coot: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Philippe_Grange · Nocturnal flight call · Arrondissement de la Roche-sur-Yon (near La Roche-sur-Yon), Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Eurasian Coot: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Call · Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, Manche, Normandie, France · CC0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The Eurasian coot is 36–38 cm (14–15 in) in length with a wing-span of 70–80 cm (28–31 in); males weigh around 890 g (31 oz) and females 750 g (26 oz). It is largely black except for the white bill and frontal shield (which gives rise to the phrase "as bald as a coot", in use as early as 1430). As a swimming species, the coot has partial webbing on its long, strong toes. The sexes are similar in appearance.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Eurasian Coot

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Eurasian Coot

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 105 countries with regular records, and 5 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, Sudan, Gambia, Niger.

About the Eurasian Coot

The Eurasian coot, also known as the common coot or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-black body, a glossy black head and a white bill with a white frontal shield. The sexes are similar in appearance.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: American Coot vs Eurasian Coot · Eurasian Coot vs Red-knobbed Coot · Eurasian Coot vs Red-gartered Coot

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