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Eurasian CootAlternate name(s): "Coot" ![]() Size: 35-38 cm; wing span 70-80 cm Weight: 585-1100 g |
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Photos |
Race "atra"
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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Eggs |
Size: 52 x 35 mm | Colour: Light-brown, with sparse mid-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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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]
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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]
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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
.