Eurasian Coot

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

Rare. Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot sighting in Yala National Park on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 204th most-seen of the 220 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.

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

November. In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot in Yala National Park on a given day, against under 5% in December to October, the lowest months. That is one of Yala National Park's wettest months, with about 340 mm of rain against 35 mm in June.

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 Yala National Park the best place to see a Eurasian Coot?

38th of 43. Of the 43 parks where we can rate Eurasian Coot sightings, Yala National Park ranks 38th at under 5%. 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 Yala National Park?

Same family: Rallidae. The closest relatives of the Eurasian Coot that you can see in Yala National Park (family Rallidae, Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) are White-breasted Waterhen (about 40%) and Western Swamphen (about 20%), 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 Yala National Park (9 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 <5% · Rare

at Yala National Park

In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%

9 Verified sightings at Yala National Park From 2019 to 2026

14,839 In all 43 parks

November 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 Yala National Park

Amaurornis phoenicurus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Porphyrio porphyrio

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Gallinula chloropus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Gallicrex cinerea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Porzana fusca

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Pavo cristatus

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Merops orientalis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Spilopelia chinensis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Vanellus indicus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Mycteria leucocephala

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Saxicoloides fulicatus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Ardeola grayii

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

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

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot sighting in Yala National Park on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 204th most-seen of the 220 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.

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

November

In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot in Yala National Park on a given day, against under 5% in December to October, the lowest months. That is one of Yala National Park's wettest months, with about 340 mm of rain against 35 mm in June.

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 Yala National Park the best place to see a Eurasian Coot?

38th of 43

Of the 43 parks where we can rate Eurasian Coot sightings, Yala National Park ranks 38th at under 5%. 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 Yala National Park?

Same family: Rallidae

The closest relatives of the Eurasian Coot that you can see in Yala National Park (family Rallidae, Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) are White-breasted Waterhen (about 40%) and Western Swamphen (about 20%), 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 Yala National Park (9 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 Yala National Park

Eurasian Coot

About the Eurasian Coot

Sounds

Recent sightings of Eurasian Coot in Yala National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Yala National Park

White-breasted Waterhen

Western Swamphen

Common Moorhen

Watercock

Ruddy-breasted Crake

Common Peafowl

Asian Green Bee-eater

Pearl-necked Dove

Red-wattled Lapwing

Painted Stork

Indian Robin

Indian Pond Heron

Before you go

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

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

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

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

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

Where does the Eurasian Coot sighting chance come from?