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7

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) Alternate name(s): "Crested Coot" German name(s): "Kammblässhuhn" Size: 38-45 cm; wing span 75-85 cm Weight: 585-1085 g

Europe: Family Group 7 Family Group 7 Table Western Swamphen Common Moorhen Eurasian Coot Red-knobbed Coot Baillon's Crake Water Rail Little Bustard Common Crane Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European 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 Red-knobbed Coots are all-black henlike birds, with a light-grey bill and a white frontal shield from the back part of the upper mandible to near the top of their heads. On top of the shield they have two small red knobs that are prominent during the breeding season and inconcpicuous in eclipse. Their eyes are red, the legs are bluish-grey, with partially webbed feet.

Taxonomy, classification See Red-knobbed 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, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Red-knobbed Coot is available HERE . Red-knobbed Coots are basically an African species, which is sedentary throughout its range. The range encompasses mainly South and East Africa (except the lowlands around the Horn of Africa). There are also populations in north-western Africa, parts of Iberia and the Balearic Islands and a few reports from Oman. In Europe Red-knobbed Coots are found exclusively in Iberia (mostly the southern two thirds, southward of a line connecting Barcelona, Spain, with Coimbra, Portugal), but also in some coastal areas in the North-west and North and on the Balearic Islands. Red-knobbed Coots have a preference for well-vegetated wetlands around freshwater lakes (including ponds in gardens and urban parks), but they can be found in rivers and creeks too.

Sightings Click here for sighting information J. Pires reports finding Red-knobbed Coots, in the Tejo estuary, Portugal, in January 2018, and another near Mora, Evora, Portugal, in May 2019. In May 2023, H. Dahlem-Senger found Red-knobbed Coots at Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Lateral view of a Red-knobbed Coot with a chick - note the adult bird's prominent red knobs
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Red-knobbed Coot; note the two characteristic dark-red spots at the top of the shield - click on image to see it together with Eurasian Coots (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Red-knobbed Coot, left, together with an Eurasian Coot; note the two characteristic dark-red spots at the top of the shield of the Red-knobbed Coot (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2018]

Lateral view of a Red-knobbed Coot, far left, together with two Eurasian Coots and a female Gadwall
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Red-knobbed Coot with a chick (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Parc Natural de s'Albufera de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain, May 2023]

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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