Photo: Till Niermann / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Giant Coot
Fulica gigantea
Giant Coot (Fulica gigantea) — Cranes & Rails of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Giant Coot (Fulica gigantea) is a member of the Rallidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Fulica
- Species gigantea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.4 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Giant Coot feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Giant Coot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Giant Coot (Fulica gigantea) belongs to the Rallidae family of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Peru to nw Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.4 kg, with a wing length of about 26.8 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 535,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Giant Coot?
The Giant Coot is a very large bird that weighs around 2.4 kg.
Where does the Giant Coot live?
The Giant Coot is found across South America with a range covering SA Peru to nw Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Giant Coot belong to?
The Giant Coot (Fulica gigantea) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Giant Coot eat?
The Giant Coot feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Giant Coot migrate?
The Giant Coot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Giant Coot endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Giant Coot make?
1 real field recording of the Giant Coot — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Giant Coot's range?
The Giant Coot has a mapped global range of about 535,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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