Fulica americana
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
The American coot (Fulica americana), also known as a mud hen or pouldeau, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step to facilitate walking on dry land. Coots live near water, typically inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies in North America. Groups of coots are called covers or rafts. The oldest known coot lived to be 22 years old.
The American coot is a migratory bird that occupies most of North America. It lives in the Pacific and southwestern United States and Mexico year-round and occupies more northeastern regions during the summer breeding season. In the winter they can be found as far south as Panama. Coots generally build floating nests and lay 8–12 eggs per clutch. Females and males have similar appearances, but they can be distinguished during aggressive displays by the larger ruff (head plumage) on the male. American coots eat primarily algae and other aquatic plants but also animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates) when available.
The American coot is closely related to the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), which occupies the same ecological niche in Eurasia and Australia as the American coot does in North America. Eurasian coots can be distinguished from this species by the absence of a red callus above the bird's frontal shield.
The American coot is listed as "Least Concern" under the IUCN conservation ratings. Hunters generally avoid killing American coots because their meat is not as sought after as that of ducks. American coots display several interesting breeding habits; mothers will preferentially feed offspring with the brightest plume feathers, which has resulted in coot chicks having brightly ornamented plumage which becomes drabber as they age. American coots are also susceptible to conspecific brood parasitism and have evolved mechanisms to differentiate their offspring from those of parasitic females. Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ciudad Juárez | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 2 | Mesa | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Tijuana | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 4 | León | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 5 | Las Vegas | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Bogota | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 7 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Puebla | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 10 | Mexico City | 🇲🇽 México |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego Zoo Safari Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Ecological Center of Sonora | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Gran Acuario de Mazatlán "Mar de Cortés" | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 6 | Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | The Wildlife Habitat | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | The Mirage Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Coot sighting in San Antonio on a given day, based on 471 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 77th most-seen of the 255 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
November to March
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Coot in San Antonio on a given day, against under 5% in April to October, the lowest months.
Between 3 and 6 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American 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.
32nd of 46
Of the 46 cities where we can rate American Coot sightings, San Antonio ranks 32nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Ciudad Juárez (México, about 70%), Mesa (United States, about 60%) and Tijuana (México, about 50%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the American Coot is recorded against all the birds logged in San Antonio (471 verified sightings), 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.
