
Coots are medium-sized water birds that belong to the rail family, called Rallidae. They make up the genus Fulica, which is the Latin word for “coot.” Coots have mostly black feathers and are generally easy to spot as they swim in open water.
Coots have noticeable shields on their foreheads, red to dark red eyes, and colorful bills. Many coots also have white feathers under their tails. The featherless shield led to the saying “as bald as a coot,” which has been used since at least 1430. Like other rails, coots have long toes that help them walk on soft ground. They have strong legs and can run well. Their wings are short and rounded, making them weak fliers, but some northern species can travel long distances. Coots often gather in large groups in open water. They are social birds and tend to make a mess when feeding in the water.
The greatest variety of coot species is found in South America, which is also likely where they originated. They are common in Europe and North America. Coots that migrate usually do so at night. The American coot is occasionally seen in Britain and Ireland, while the Eurasian coot is present in Asia, Australia, and parts of Africa. In southern Louisiana, people call the coot “poule d’eau,” which means “water hen” in English.
Coots eat a mix of plants, small animals, fish, and eggs. During the breeding season, they can be very territorial, but they often live in large flocks on shallow, plant-filled lakes.The common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), also known as the waterhen, is a bird in the rail family (Rallidae) found across Africa, Europe, and Asia, primarily in wetlands like marshes and ponds. It has black and brown plumage, a white under-tail, yellow legs, and a distinctive red bill with a yellow tip. Juveniles lack the red shield of adults.
Common moorhens produce a range of calls and hiss when threatened. They typically measure 30 to 38 cm in length and weigh between 192 to 500 g. While they are resident in many areas, populations in colder regions migrate during winter.
Feeding on various vegetation and small aquatic creatures, moorhens often forage near or in water. They are territorial during the breeding season, nesting in dense vegetation, typically laying 5 to 8 eggs. Both parents care for the young, which fledge after about 40–50 days.
Common moorhens also engage in nest parasitism, laying eggs in the nests of other moorhens or different species when nesting sites are limited.