Similar Species

Common Moorhens are smaller and slimmer than American Coots, with a bright-red, yellow-tipped bill and facial shield. American Coots can develop a dark red area on the upper part of the shield, but the bill is always mainly white. American Coots are more uniformly gray-black than Common Moorhens, which have a bold white stripe on the flanks and greenish-brown wings. Out of the water, Common Moorhens have thin toes whereas American Coots have floppy, lobed toes. Young Common Moorhens have the white flank stripe and bold white under the tail to set them apart from American Coots. Pied-billed Grebe is found in the same wetland habitat as American Coot but is smaller and pale brown throughout, with no facial shield. Purple Gallinule is similar in shape, but has bright violet underparts and iridescent green wings, a yellow-tipped red bill, and a pale blue facial shield.