American Coot

This duck-like species is the most abundant and widely distributed
of North American rails. Its lobed toes make it well adapted to swimming and diving, but are somewhat of an impediment on land.

Its flight is clumsy; it becomes airborne with difficulty, running along the water surface before taking off. American Coots form large flocks on open water in winter, often associating with duck an unusual trait for a member of the rail family.

VOICE
Various raucous clucks, grunts, and croaks and an explosive keek.

NESTING
Bulky cup of plant material placed in aquatic vegetation on or near water; 5–15 eggs; 1–2 broods; April–July.

FEEDING
Forages on or by diving under shallow water and on land; primarily herbivorous, but also eats snails, insects, spiders, tadpoles, fish, and even carrion.

OCCURRENCE
Breeds in open water habitats west of the Appalachians and
in Florida. Moves from the northern parts of its range in winter to the southeastern US, where open water persists; also migrates to western and southern Mexico.