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7

Eurasian Coot

(Fulica atra)
Alternate name(s): "Coot"
German name(s): "Blässhuhn", "Blässralle" ("Blesshuhn", "Blessralle")

Size: 35-38 cm; wing span 70-80 cm
Weight: 585-1100 g

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Eurasian Coot at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "atra"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Eurasian Coot; note the partially webbed feet (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Hagnau, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Near-frontal view of an Eurasian Coot (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Odense, Denmark, September 2017]

Near-frontal view of an Eurasian Coot (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Schierstein, Hessen, Germany, March 2013]

Near-lateral view of an Eurasian Coot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Coot on a fresh water lake
[Holzmaar, Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, June 2006]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Coot (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[City Park, Porto, Portugal, December 2019]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Coot (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of an Eurasian Coot (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

Near-dorsal view from above of an Eurasian Coot (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance, Germany, April 2019]

Near-frontal view of an Eurasian Coot at take-off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Coot in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Coot in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Comparison of an Eurasian Coot, right, with three Northern Shovelers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of an Eurasian Coot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Eurasian Coot on a freshwater lake
[Holzmaar, Eifel, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, August 2014]

Pair of Eurasian Coots bringing food for their chick - yes, the fluffy thing that looks like a microphone with absorber...
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2018]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Coot chick (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Near-frontal view of an Eurasian Coot chick (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Adult Eurasian Coot with four recently hatched precocial chicks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Four recently hatched precocial Eurasian Coot chicks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Mar - Jun Eggs: 6 - 10 Incubation period: 21 - 24 days Fledging age: 31 - 39 days

Eurasian Coot chicks are precocial, i.e. they leave the nest at a very young age, long before they can fly.

Eurasian Coot with chicks (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, near Walluf, Hessen, Germany, May 2017]

Nest

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 on its nest (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, near Walluf, Hessen, Germany, April 2019]

Adult Eurasian Coot brooding a chick, with a juvenile, probably from an earlier clutch, still around
[Wassenaar, Zuid Holland, Netherlands, 1998]

Adult Eurasian Coot brooding a chick, with a juvenile, probably from an earlier clutch, now also on the nest
[Wassenaar, Zuid Holland, Netherlands, 1998]

Eggs

Size: 52 x 35 mm Colour: Light-brown, with sparse mid-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Outside the breeding season Eurasian Coots can congregate in substantial flocks.

Flock of Eurasian Coots (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2018]

Flock of Eurasian Coots (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira de Albergaria dos Fusos, Oriola, Portel, Evora, Portugal, January 2020]

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

Frontal view of an Eurasian Coot taking a bath (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Coot taking a bath (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Food, Diet

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

Eurasian Coot with a piece of aquatic plant material (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Eurasian Coot with a piece of aquatic plant material (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Lake Constance, Germany, September 2022]

Eurasian Coots diving to feed on aquatic plants (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Albufeira de Morgavel, Sines, Setubal, Portugal, October 2020]

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.

eurcoot_dw_20190415.m4a atra
(Poland)
Contact calls? © DW
eurcoot_jp_20190413.m4a atra
(Portugal)
Contact calls? © JP
eurcoot_jp_20200117.m4a atra
(Portugal)
? © JP
 
eurcoot_20200316_5.m4a australis
(NW NSW)
Contact calls(?) © MD
eurcoot_20220504.m4a australis
(NW NSW)
Contact calls? (Q&A) © MD
eurcoot_20161208.m4a australis
(NW NSW)
Alarm call © MD
eurcoot_20151203.mp3 australis
(NW NSW)
Alarm calls © MD
eurcoot_20160725_2.mp3 australis
(NW NSW)
Warning calls(?) © MD
eurcoot_20200316.m4a australis
(NW NSW)
Warning calls(?) © MD
eurcoot_20200316_4.m4a australis
(NW NSW)
Mating calls(?) © MD
eurcoot_20161208_2.m4a australis
(NW NSW)
Upset/fighting(?) © MD
eurcoot_20161104.mp3 australis
(NW NSW)
Alarm calls (chick) © MD
eurcoot_20230318.mp3 australis
(NW NSW)
Various (Adult + 2 juveniles) © MD
eurcoot_20140716.mp3 australis
(NW NSW)
? (Immature) © MD
eurcoot_20230318_2.mp3 australis
(NW NSW)
? (2 juveniles) © MD
eurcoot_20200316_2.m4a australis
(NW NSW)
? © MD
eurcoot_20200316_3.m4a australis
(NW NSW)
? © MD

More Eurasian Coot sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.