Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Least ConcernCommonOmnivoreWetlandPlatform nestLarge · 826 g

About the Red-knobbed Coot

The red-knobbed coot or crested coot is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae.

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

ID tip

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.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Red-knobbed Coot sounds like

Recording: Joost van Bruggen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in France.

When to see it

Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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

Learn the Red-knobbed 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.

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