Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Coot
Fulica americana
American Coot (Fulica americana) — Cranes & Rails of North America.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Coot (Fulica americana) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 637 g. 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 americana
Where it lives
Alaska and Canada to Costa Rica, also northern South America
Quick facts
- Weight
- 637 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American Coot feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The American Coot is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The American Coot (Fulica americana) is a member of the Rallidae family, within the order Gruiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA Alaska and Canada to Costa Rica, also n South America.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 637 g, with a wing length of about 18.3 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 10.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Coot?
The American Coot is a large bird that weighs around 637 g.
Where does the American Coot live?
The American Coot is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA Alaska and Canada to Costa Rica, also n South America, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the American Coot belong to?
The American Coot (Fulica americana) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the American Coot eat?
The American Coot feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the American Coot migrate?
The American Coot is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the American 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 American Coot make?
1 real field recording of the American Coot — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American Coot's range?
The American Coot has a mapped global range of about 10.9 million 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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