American Coot
American Coot
Adult
- Thick greenish legs and very large feet
- Black head and neck
- Pointed white bill
- © Cameron Rognan, UT, Sunset Park, St. George, December 2007
American Coot
Adults
- Dark gray with black head and white bill
- Often found in large flocks in the winter
- © Laura Erickson, NY, Ithaca, February 2009
American Coot
Adult
- Round body and round head
- Dark gray overall with black head
- Bright white, pointed bill (not rounded like a duck's)
- Red eye, greenish legs
- © Billtacular, NJ, February 2009
American Coot
Adult
- Pointed white bill
- Dark reddish forehead shield
- Large, greenish, lobed feet
- © genericzombie, KY, Louisville, January 2009
American Coot
Adult
- Very large, lobed feet
- Coots dive underwater to feed on aquatic vegetation
- © Ron McCluskey, WA, Douglas County, February 2009
American Coot
Adult and juvenile
- Orange down on neck of juvenile turns pale gray-white with age
- Bare head of juvenile develops pale feathering
- Adults often seen feeding juveniles in late spring and summer
- © Raymond Lee, Elk Island NP, Alberta, Canada, July 2010
American Coot
Juvenile
- Orange-yellow collar of down feathers
- Fluffy black down feathers cover body
- Bare skin on head with stubby red and orange bill
- © Nick Chill, CA, San Carlos, San Diego, May 2010
Similar Species
Adult
- Similar in shape and behavior to American Coot, but readily distinguishable
- Red bill and forehead shield, yellow bill tip
- White undertail
- White stripe on flanks
- © Jeff H, Lake Underhill, Orlando, FL, January 2011
Adult
- Long, clawed toes with no lobes
- Red bill and forehead shield with yellow bill tip
- White stripe on flanks
- © avicentric, Loxahatchee NWR,, FL, December 2009
Immature
- Bold, white undertail
- Olive-brown back and wings
- No lobes on toes
- © cminer52, Waupun, WI, October 2010
Adult
- Similar in shape but easily distinguishable from American Coot
- Bright violet underparts, glossy green back and wings
- Red bill with yellow tip and pale blue facial shield
- Long, yellow legs with large, non-lobed feet.
- © Ken Schneider, Palm County, FL, February 2009
Adult
- Not very similar to American Coot
- Smaller and brown throughout
- Small head and slender neck
- Gray-yellow bill with no facial shield
- © Lois Manowitz, Stockham, Tucson, AZ, February 2010