Photo: shi zhao / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-knobbed Coot
Fulica cristata
Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) — Cranes & Rails of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 826 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 cristata
Where it lives
Southern Spain and Morocco, Ethiopia to Angola, Namibia and South Africa, Madagascar
Quick facts
- Weight
- 826 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 Red-knobbed Coot feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Red-knobbed Coot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) is a member of the Rallidae family, within the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF s Spain and Morocco, Ethiopia to Angola, Namibia and South Africa, Madagascar.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 826 g, with a wing length of about 21.2 cm and a tail of around 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-knobbed Coot?
The Red-knobbed Coot is a large bird that weighs around 826 g.
Where does the Red-knobbed Coot live?
The Red-knobbed Coot is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF s Spain and Morocco, Ethiopia to Angola, Namibia and South Africa, Madagascar, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Red-knobbed Coot belong to?
The Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Red-knobbed Coot eat?
The Red-knobbed Coot feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Red-knobbed Coot migrate?
The Red-knobbed Coot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-knobbed 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 Red-knobbed Coot make?
1 real field recording of the Red-knobbed 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 Red-knobbed Coot's range?
The Red-knobbed Coot has a mapped global range of about 5.3 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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