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Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) Alternate name(s): "Common Coot" (race "atra"); "Australian Coot", "Toorie" (race "australis") Aboriginal name(s): "kidjibroon", "moolyawindo" (WA); "kirli" Size: 35-38 cm Weight: 585-1100 g

Australia: Family Group 7 Family Group 7 Table Dusky Moorhen Australasian (Purple) Swamphen Black-tailed Native-hen Tasmanian Native-hen Pale-vented Bush-hen Eurasian Coot White-browed Crake Spotless Crake Baillon's Crake Australian Spotted Crake Lewin's Rail Buff-banded Rail Red-necked Crake Chestnut Rail White-breasted Waterhen Lord Howe Woodhen Australian Bustard Brolga Sarus Crane Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Eurasian Coots are medium-sized waterhens. Their plumage is dark slate-grey, with a black head. The eyes are red, the legs and feet are grey. They are the only waterhens with a white frontal shield and bill. Male Eurasian Coots have a more prominent shield than females. Juvenile Eurasian Coots have a pale throat and duller plumage than adults. Twitcher's tip As opposed to Australian (Purple) Swamphens and Dusky Moorhens, they have a grey bill and white frontal shield.

Taxonomy, classification See Eurasian Coot at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Eurasian Coot is available HERE . Eurasian Coots can be found basically all over central Europe, the British islands, southern Scandinavia, most of the Mediterranean and throughout temperate Asia plus the Indian subcontinent and, via far-east Asia, into Australia and New Zealand. In western and central Europe and in (sub)tropical Asia they are permanent residents, while in Asia Minor, Israel/Palestine and along the northern African coastal fringe they are mostly winter visitors. In Australia Eurasian Coots, race "australis" are found. Their range is similar to those of other gallinules, but their ability to deal with various conditions leads them just a bit further than others everywhere. They populate most of the Australian continent, except the sandy deserts of WA and the Nullarbor. They are most common in the South-East of the continent, including Tasmania, and in the south-western corner of WA. In the semi-arid interior their distribution will depend on rainfall. Eurasian Coots live in swamps, often around lakes and farm dams, but also in estuaries. They adjust to the presence of humans well and are therefore also common in urban parks. Where to look? How to find this species? Compared to other species of water hens Eurasian Coots are seen less often wading along the fringes of fresh water. They tend to paddle across water a lot more and feed from the waterside of shores, rather than from the land side. The easiest way to distinguish them from other water hens is that they have a white forehead and no white spots on their tails.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "australis" In the region of Narrabri, NSW, where we live, Eurasian Coots, race "australis", can be found regularly around freshwater lakes, such as e.g. Narrabri Lake. They were also spotted by us in many locations in central QLD, in particular also, in large numbers, in the wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, in July 2009. Special access to the wetlands kindly granted by the owners of Capricorn Resort is most gratefully acknowledged. Subsequently, hundreds of Eurasian Coots, race "australis", were spotted by us at Goran Lake, an ephemeral lake about 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, in April 2011, which disappeared again when Goran Lake dried up. They were also found by us around many other inland lakes and farm dams in NSW. J. Greaves reports spotting Eurasian Coots, race "australis", regularly in Perth, WA. J. Greaves reports spotting Eurasian Coots, race "australis", at the Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, in June 2015, and at the Kununurra, WA, sewage treatment works in January 2016. They were also seen on Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016. Race "atra" Eurasian Coots, nominate race "atra", were spotted by us in Europe.

Photos

Race "australis"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Eurasian Coot; the broad facial shield identifies this bird as a male
[Old Quipolly Dam, Quirindi, NSW, May 2013]

This male Eurasian Coot is puffing up its wings and plumage to impress the competition by making itself appear to be bigger
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Lateral view of a male Eurasian Coot on a lake
[Old Quipolly Dam, Quirindi, NSW, May 2013]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Eurasian Coot (note the narrow facial shield), with in the background a Dusky Moorhen feeding on parts of underwater plants (photo courtesy of J. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2014]

Near-lateral view of a female Eurasian Coot, with a close-up on its feet with partially webbed toes
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Raymond Island, Paynesville, VIC, April 2018]

Eurasian Coot seen when just finished preening
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Dorsal view of an Eurasian Coot, screaming an alarm
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]

Flock of Eurasian coots in shallow water
[Wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, July 2009; see credits page for details]

Eurasian Coots making a splash
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, January 2009]

Eurasian Coots caught in the act...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Direct size comparison between a Dusky Moorhen, left, and an Eurasian Coot, right (photo courtesy of J. Ross-Taylor)
[Gold Coast, QLD, June 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Juvenile Eurasian Coot; note the greyish throat, by which the bird can be identified
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

In Narrabri by about November the Eurasian Coot chicks start moving around without adult supervision; here one close to an Australasian Grebe
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Three Eurasian Coot chicks, one of which is preening
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Frontal view of an Eurasian Coot chick on lily pads
[Mudgee, NSW, December 2015]

Male(?) Eurasian Coot with chicks out on the water; two are being fed
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Mar

Eggs: 5 - 7

Incubation period: 22 - 26 days

Fledging age: 28 - 42 days

Given the right conditions (and depending on geographical latitude), Eurasian Coots can breed any time of the year.

Nest

"bungobittah", "malunna" = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Reeds

Height above ground: N/A

The nest can be floating on water, affixed to a plant, or sit on top of a low, flat object, such as e.g. an old reed stump.

Eurasian Coot nest with 7 eggs inside (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]

Eurasian Coot nest on a suburban lake (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[East Perth, WA, December 2014]

Eurasian Coot nest with four chicks

Here two youngsters that have probably temporarily returned to their nest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 52 x 35 mm

Colour: Light-brown, with sparse mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Closer look at 7 eggs inside an Eurasian Coot nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]

Eurasian Coot on its nest with one egg inside (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[East Perth, WA, December 2014]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

As opposed to most Moorhens or Swamphens, which are primarily waders, the Eurasian Coot will also dive for food in shallow water.

Eurasian Coot going for a dive
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, October 2010]

It never fails to amaze us when realizing that even aquatic birds that spend most of their lives on water need to bathe...

Female Eurasian Coot taking a bath
[Warialda, NSW, April 2014]

Especially outside the breeding season Eurasian Coots tend to form large flocks.

Eurasian Coots can sometimes be found in large congregations; this is one of three flocks seen on this water reservoir at the same time
[Gordonbrook Dam, near Kingaroy, QLD, June 2017]

Eurasian Coots can sometimes be found in large congregations
[Wooroolin Wetlands, Wooroolin, QLD, June 2017]

Food, Diet

To the best of our knowledge Eurasian Coots feed on aquatic plants, but also on small animals.

Male Eurasian Coot feeding on algae
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Eurasian Coot with a piece of aquatic plant it has just brought up from under the water surface
[Old Quipolly Dam, Quirindi, NSW, May 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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