American Coot

HOW TO IDENTIFY:

* Length: 12 inches Wingspan: 25 inches
* Fairly large, duck-like waterbird with short wings and a short tail
* Very short, thick bill
* Frequently seen both swimming and walking
* Often flicks and cocks short tail while walking, exposing white outer undertail coverts
* Sexes similar
* Toes have lobed webbing, unlike gallinules

Adult:

* White bill with dark reddish ring just before tip
* White frontal shield with reddish oval near tip
* Slate gray head, neck, back, upperwings, breast and belly

Juvenile:

* Lacks the frontal shield of the adult
* Horn-colored bill may lack ring near tip
* Pale gray-brown head, neck, upperwings, breast and back; feathers on underparts often with paler edges

Similar species:

Common Moorhen is of similar size and shape but has a reddish bill with a yellowish tip, a white stripe along the flanks, and a brownish back.