Caribbean Coot
Encyclopedia
The Caribbean Coot is a large waterbird of the family Rallidae
, which is a resident breeder in the Caribbean
and parts of Venezuela
. Several alleged sightings have occurred in North America, but these cannot be authenticated since some American Coot
s (Fulica americana) lack red knobs on the frontal shield of the bill. The Caribbean Coot has sometimes been treated as a subspecies
of the latter species.
The adult is 33–38 cm (13–15 in) long and has a short thick white bill with a reddish-brown spot near the tip and a white forehead shield. The body is grey with the head and neck darker than the rest of the body. The legs are yellow, with scalloped toes rather than webbed feet. It differs from the American Coot in that the latter species usually has red knobs at the top of its frontal shield.
The breeding habitat is freshwater lakes and marsh
es. They build a nest in shallow water or floating, and lay 4-8 speckled whitish or pale brown eggs. They are frequently seen swimming in open water.
Caribbean Coots can dive for food but can also forage on land. They are omnivore
s, eating plant material, insects, fish, and other aquatic animals.
Their call is a high-pitched squeaking honk somewhat like a goose, similar to American Coot.
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...
, which is a resident breeder in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and parts of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Several alleged sightings have occurred in North America, but these cannot be authenticated since some American Coot
American Coot
The American Coot is a bird of the family Rallidae, inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies. Measuring in length and 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...
s (Fulica americana) lack red knobs on the frontal shield of the bill. The Caribbean Coot has sometimes been treated as a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the latter species.
The adult is 33–38 cm (13–15 in) long and has a short thick white bill with a reddish-brown spot near the tip and a white forehead shield. The body is grey with the head and neck darker than the rest of the body. The legs are yellow, with scalloped toes rather than webbed feet. It differs from the American Coot in that the latter species usually has red knobs at the top of its frontal shield.
The breeding habitat is freshwater lakes and marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es. They build a nest in shallow water or floating, and lay 4-8 speckled whitish or pale brown eggs. They are frequently seen swimming in open water.
Caribbean Coots can dive for food but can also forage on land. They are omnivore
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
s, eating plant material, insects, fish, and other aquatic animals.
Their call is a high-pitched squeaking honk somewhat like a goose, similar to American Coot.