Eurasian Coot

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park?

With luck. About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot sighting in Białowieża National Park on a given day, based on 79 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 103rd most-seen of the 182 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park?

April and August–September. In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July and October–February, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Eurasian Coot?

Between 10 am and 1 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eurasian Coot sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Białowieża National Park the best place to see a Eurasian Coot?

21st of 43. Of the 43 parks where we can rate Eurasian Coot sightings, Białowieża National Park ranks 21st at about 10%. The best odds are in Doñana National Park (Spain, about 70%), Keoladeo National Park (India, about 70%) and Camargue (France, about 60%). All parks ranked.

Q: Which relatives of the Eurasian Coot live in Białowieża National Park?

Same family: Rallidae. The closest relatives of the Eurasian Coot that you can see in Białowieża National Park (family Rallidae, Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) are Corn Crake (about 20%) and Water Rail (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the Eurasian Coot sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Eurasian Coot is recorded against all the birds logged in Białowieża National Park (79 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Fulica atra

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderGruiformes (Cranes, Rails, and Allies)
FamilyRallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
GenusFulica (Coots)
SpeciesFulica atra (Eurasian Coot)

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

at Białowieża National Park

In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%

79 Verified sightings at Białowieża National Park From 2019 to 2026

14,839 In all 43 parks

August Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge City Pond Birds EuropeMedium

About the Eurasian Coot

The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the common coot or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-black body, a glossy black head and a white bill with a white frontal shield. The sexes are similar in appearance.

The Eurasian coot was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under its current binomial name Fulica atra. Linnaeus specified the locality as Europe but this is now restricted to Sweden. The binomial name is from Latin: Fulica means 'coot', and atra means 'black'.

Four subspecies are recognised: An extinct subspecies F. atra pontica has been described from the Chalcolithic (around 4800–4400 BP) from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The Eurasian coot is 36–38... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:09

Sweden · 2026

Begging call0:09

Belgium · 2026

Flight call0:08

Netherlands · 2024

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 12 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~70%
2	Keoladeo National Park	🇮🇳 India	~70%
3	Camargue	🇫🇷 France	~60%
4	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~50%
5	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~40%
6	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~30%
7	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~30%
8	Royal National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~30%
9	Biebrza National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~30%
10	Snowdonia National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~30%
11	Hattah-Kulkyne National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~20%
12	Sierra Nevada National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~20%
13	Nikko National Park	🇯🇵 Japan	~20%
14	Mercantour National Park	🇫🇷 France	~20%
15	Kosciuszko National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~20%
16	Bavarian Forest National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~10%
17	Great Otway National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
18	Blue Mountains National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
19	Grampians National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
20	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
21	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~10%
22	Sierra de Guadarrama National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~10%
23	Monfragüe National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~10%
24	Picos de Europa National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~10%
25	Booderee National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
26	Ranthambore National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
27	Bandipur National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
28	Cairngorms National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	<5%
29	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	<5%
30	Wilsons Promontory National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
31	Triglav National Park	🇸🇮 Slovenia	<5%
32	Springbrook National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
33	Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
34	Mudumalai National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
35	Gauja National Park	🇱🇻 Latvia	<5%
36	Nagarhole National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
37	Satpura National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
38	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	<5%
39	Bandhavgarh National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
40	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
41	Fiordland National Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	<5%
42	Kanha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
43	Lamington National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Amsterdam	🇳🇱 Netherlands	~90%
2	Rotterdam [The Hague]	🇳🇱 Netherlands	~80%
3	Copenhagen	🇩🇰 Denmark	~70%
4	London	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~70%
5	Turin	🇮🇹 Italy	~70%
6	Liverpool	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~70%
7	Birmingham	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	~70%
8	Perth	🇦🇺 Australia	~60%
9	Brussels	🇧🇪 Belgium	~60%
10	Melbourne	🇦🇺 Australia	~60%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Whipsnade Zoo	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	In captivity
2	Beijing Wildlife Park	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
3	Szeged Zoo	🇭🇺 Hungary	In captivity
4	Cleland Wildlife Park	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
5	Mansfield Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
6	Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden	🇭🇺 Hungary	In captivity
7	Marshalls Animal Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	In captivity
8	Valencia Bioparc	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
9	Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
10	Adelaide Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
11	The Menagerie, Stowe Gardens	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	In captivity
12	Vodní park Čabárna	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity

Show all 12 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Białowieża National Park

Crex crex

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Rallus aquaticus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Gallinula chloropus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Porzana porzana

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Grus grus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Fringilla coelebs

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Dendrocopos major

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Turdus merula

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Parus major

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Phylloscopus collybita

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Erithacus rubecula

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Sylvia atricapilla

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot sighting in Białowieża National Park on a given day, based on 79 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 103rd most-seen of the 182 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park?

April and August–September

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July and October–February, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Eurasian Coot?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eurasian Coot sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Białowieża National Park the best place to see a Eurasian Coot?

21st of 43

Of the 43 parks where we can rate Eurasian Coot sightings, Białowieża National Park ranks 21st at about 10%. The best odds are in Doñana National Park (Spain, about 70%), Keoladeo National Park (India, about 70%) and Camargue (France, about 60%). All parks ranked.

Which relatives of the Eurasian Coot live in Białowieża National Park?

Same family: Rallidae

The closest relatives of the Eurasian Coot that you can see in Białowieża National Park (family Rallidae, Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) are Corn Crake (about 20%) and Water Rail (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Eurasian Coot sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Eurasian Coot is recorded against all the birds logged in Białowieża National Park (79 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Białowieża National Park

Eurasian Coot

About the Eurasian Coot

Sounds

Recent sightings of Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Białowieża National Park

Corn Crake

Water Rail

Common Moorhen

Spotted Crake

Common Crane

Chaffinch

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Eurasian Blackbird

Great Tit

Common Chiffchaff

European Robin

Blackcap

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park?

When is the best time to see a Eurasian Coot in Białowieża National Park?

What time of day is best to see a Eurasian Coot?

Is Białowieża National Park the best place to see a Eurasian Coot?

Which relatives of the Eurasian Coot live in Białowieża National Park?

Where does the Eurasian Coot sighting chance come from?