About the Horned Coot
The horned coot is a species of bird found in the Andes of South America. It was described by Bonaparte in 1853 based on a specimen collected in Bolivia. For a long time it was known only from the type specimen.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Horned coot males average a little larger than the female. With a total length of 46–62 cm (18–24 in) and a reported body mass from 1.6–2.29 kg (3.5–5.0 lb), it averages slightly smaller than the related giant coot as the second largest coot and the third largest extant species of rail. While most coots have a horny shield on the forehead, the horned coot has three wattles in both sexes. The central wattle is large and may possibly be erectile. The three wattles terminate in tufts of filoplumes. At the base of the beak and below the wattle is a fleshy caruncle which is whitish.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Peru.
When to see it
Peak activity in February · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Giant CootFulica giganteaThe giant coot is the second largest extant member of family Rallidae, after the takahē of New Zealand.
Hawaiian CootFulica alaiThe ʻAlae keʻokeʻo, also known as the Hawaiian coot in English, is a bird in the rail family, Rallidae, that is endemic to Hawaii.
Andean CootFulica ardesiacaThe Andean coot is 40 to 43 cm (16 to 17 in) long.
Learn the Horned Coot for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.