Identifying Coots & Moorhens: A Complete Guide

David Coultham

Updated on:

The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) and the Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) are both common wading birds found in the British Isles, and they are frequently confused with each other. Identifying adult birds is quite straightforward, while distinguishing juvenile birds can be a bit more challenging. This guide will assist you in confidently identifying between the two species.

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Video | Identifying Coots & Moorhens

Habitats

Coots and Moorhens are commonly found in the company of ducks, which might lead to the misconception that they are closely related. However, both species belong to the Rail family. They thrive in wetland habitats such as marshes, lakes, and rivers. While Coots tend to prefer open water environments, Moorhens often choose to inhabit areas with dense vegetation, making them more discreet in their behavior.

Biometrics

Coots and Moorhens are both aquatic birds that are similar in size but differ significantly in bulk. Coots can reach a body length of up to 40 cm and can weigh as much as 1000 g, making them considerably heavier than Moorhens, which have a maximum body length of 38 cm and typically weigh up to 420 g. Therefore, while their sizes may appear comparable, the Coot is noticeably the sturdier of the two.

Moorhen

The most distinctive feature on an adult Moorhen is the bright red frontal shield and beak. The tip of the beak is yellow. From a distance, their feathers may appear black; however, upon closer inspection, one can observe a dark brown back and a more bluish-black belly. Additionally, their flanks feature prominent white stripes, contributing to their unique appearance.

When out of the water, Moorhens showcase bright yellow feet reminiscent of chicken feet, accented by vibrant red rings encircling the tops of their legs, adding to their unique and colorful appearance. Juvenile Moorhen lack the frontal shield.

Adult Coot | Image Credit: wirestock

Juvenile Moorhen are predominantly brown in color, as they grow older, they start to develop the white lines down their flanks.

Juvenile Moorhen | Image Credit: yuriybal

The Moorhen has diverse vocalizations, producing loud clucks similar to a startled chicken. It also cackles, and yelps, often ending calls with what sounds like laughter. Their calls tend to be quieter & more discreet than Coots.

Moorhen call:

Romuald Mikusek xeno-canto.org

Coot

Adult Coots are characterized by their distinctively white or pale pink colored shields and beaks. Their feather coloring is all black. Out of the water, Coots are distinguished by their pale grey feet, which feature wide, flat lobes of skin extending along their toes, which act in the same way as webbed feet when swimming. These adaptations not only enhance their swimming abilities but also allow them to effectively run across the water’s surface as they prepare to take flight.

Adult Coot | Image Credit: wirestock

Newly hatched Coots have a unique appearance. Their heads are adorned with bright orange and red strands, while their bodies are covered in gray, fluffy feathers.

Juvenile Coot | Image Credit: graemeanderson

This fluffy gray plumage quickly develops into a more uniform gray coat across their bodies, with the exception of whitish patches on their head, neck, and breast. Juvenile Coots do not have the distinctive frontal shield.

Juvenile Coot | Image Credit: yuriybal

The Coot is a noisy bird with a wide variety of calls, the most common of which are an “owping” which is a harsh croak, and a “Phit” which is a sharp call which can sound almost metallic.

Coot call:

Jack Berteau xeno-canto.org



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