American Coot
Fulica americana

f6.7 @ 1/3200s, ISO:1000, Nikon D3S w 500mm and 1.7X tele-extender

\"American Coot,\" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.The American Coot (Fulica americana) is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken to be ducks, American Coots belong to a distinct order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step in order 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 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.American Coots eat primarily algae and other aquatic plants but also animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates) when available.

George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, British Columbia, Canada

03/09/2013