OC Birder Girl: American Coot

Friday, October 5, 2007

A Tale of Two Coots

A little family of American Coots (aka Mudhens) at Huntington Central Park.

This spring and summer I met two coot mothers and their chicks at Huntington Central Park West. One hung out the end of Lake Huntington near Alice's Breakfast in the Park. She had two young chicks. One noticeably older than the other. They seemed to nest in a burrow in the bank of the lake. They would swim and walk on the bank. I have not read about American Coots nesting in burrows, but this family seemed to do just that.

Above is a video that I took of the coot family near Alice's. The bonding between family members is evident.

Here they are entering their burrow. They actually do fit inside.

On the other side of the lake was another family. The mother had three chicks. They were on the side of the lake near the equestrian center. They were older than the chicks on the other side of the lake and would feed in the grass with their mother.

Foraging on the dirt.

Obviously, the feet grow in first.

A month later: "Wait up, Mom!"

This chick is following after the mother. She was still supplementing the chick's independent foraging by feeding it tidbits she found. The older chick followed a little further away raising a ruckus over being left behind.

Nothing like a mother's love. She is feeding it here, but they did seem very affectionate. This mother and her chick often stayed close to each other and leaned against each other. Spring is a great time to bird watch and see the babies and their parents. I don't often think of American Coots as affectionate or maternal, but these birds seemed to be. It was very touching watching these two families grow up. Even as I enjoy the fall migration, I look forward to the spring.

OC Birder Girl Links

American Coot

See my post on the American Coot, also know as the Mudhen.

Central Park in Huntington Beach

See my post on Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach. It is a great place to go birding in Orange County, California.

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Thursday, October 4, 2007

American Coot--Fulica americana

A Crowd of Coots. Courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

I like the photo above because it captures the essence of the American Coot. Coots, in a sense, are a pack bird. They are often seen in groups--sometimes large groups. When they run--usually because someone in the park is feeding ducks--they sometimes flap their wings out to their sides like arms seemingly to steady themselves in their headlong dash for the grub. No need to ring the dinner bell with these clumsy-looking little birds.

Coots at Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley running for a handout.

The American coot is a very common bird. Many people think it is a duck, but it's in a totally different family. When I am out birding, I am frequently asked what kind of duck coots are or if it is a duck. The only duck-like things about coots are that it swims, sometimes hangs out in parks, and will join ducks when people feed them bread, corn, or other grain. (Please note that feeding the ducks is not a good idea for many reasons including poor nutrition, disease, and overpopulation.) However, the coot is not a duck. It does not have an bill like a duck or even webbed feet .

American Coot in shallow water at Central Park in Huntington Beach

In fact, it is the feet of the American Coot that so many people find fascinating. Its feet have lobed toes and are green. I first noticed their feet when I was a child visiting the L.A. Arboretum. There were lots and lots of coots as well as ducks on Baldwin Lake near the Lucky Baldwin Cottage (The Queen Anne Cottage). When the coots clambered out of the lake and came running to get some food, all I could do is stare at their weird, green feet.

Coot showing off those funny feet at Central Park West by Huntington Lake.

Now, I kind of like their odd feet. They grow on you. They are different, that's for sure. They've got style. Nerdy-cool.

Video I took at Central Park Huntington Beach West:

Coots eat aquatic plants, roots, insects, grain, invertebrates like worms and other squishy things. They line up for corn or bread when ducks are getting fed. Their bills look more like a chicken's than a duck's.

Coot swimming at Huntington Beach's Central Park.

Coots are the only diving member of their family. Coots are often called "mud hens." They will go anywhere for food, and aren't ashamed to beg. Coots are aggressive at times. I have seen them charge, head down, at another coot. Today I saw one get into a little peck fest with a Mallard Duck. And yet, they do hang out in large flocks getting along for the most part. Coots are in the same family as rails, Gallinules, and Moorhens, and the only member of their family that likes to gather in large groups. Most non-coot family members prefer, like Greta Garbo, to be alone.

Coot foraging for food.

Coots are characters and worth studying. Don't overlook this common bird just because he's hanging all over the place with all his friends. Watch. He'll teach you something new about birds and their behavior.

American Coot Links

US Geological Survey's American Coot Page

All About Birds from Cornell University: American Coot Page

Stanford University Page on Coots

This page has no pictures, but the text provides some really descriptive passages about coot social behavior.

Passport to Texas Bird of the Month 2001: American Coot

Good article on Coots.

Animal Diversity Web: American Coots

Good, detailed article.

American Coots: The Bad Boys of the Bird World

Article about all the aggressive and annoying behavior of the American Coot, and also about how they deserve respect.

Coots Can Count from National Geographic

Turns out the birds are smart in many ways.