American Coot
Fulica americana

f9 @ 1/800s, ISO:1250, Nikon D3S w 500mm and 1.7X teleconverter


\"American Coot,\" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The American coot measures 34–43 cm (13–17 in) in length and 58–71 cm (23–28 in) across the wings. Adults have a short, thick, white bill and white frontal shield, which usually has a reddish-brown spot near the top of the bill between the eyes. Males and females look alike, but females are smaller. Body mass in females ranges from 427 to 628 g (0.941 to 1.385 lb) and in males from 576 to 848 g (1.270 to 1.870 lb). Juvenile birds have olive-brown crowns and a gray body. They become adult-colored around 4 months of age.
Merritt Island NWR, Titusville, Florida
 
01/15/2016