Hawaiian Coot

Basic Description

The Hawaiian Coot is an endangered waterbird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, but it's also a familiar sight in beachside wetlands and golf courses. This black-and-gray waterbird with a chickenlike beak and bulbous frontal shield is similar to American Coot and other coot species around the world. It swims conspicuously across the water, pumping its head as it moves about in search of aquatic plants to eat. It forms sizable flocks during the nonbreeding season, with individuals frequently chasing each other and squawking. Hawaiian Coots breed on the major Hawaiian islands and regularly move between islands in the archipelago.