The American Coot is a slate-gray waterbird related to rails, distinguished by its white chicken-like bill with a red shield and large, lobed toes that give it a awkward walking gait on land. It is highly aggressive and territorial, commonly fighting with conspecifics over food and space. It sometimes parasitizes other coots' nests and has been shown to recognize and reject foreign eggs.
Best time to see a American Coot
The best time to see a American Coot is November–March, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 116,516 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent American Coot sightings near you
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