Duck Like

American Coot

Fulica americana
American Coot thumbnail
Length: 16 in. (39 cm )
Common in freshwater marshes, ponds, lakes and rivers, the American Coot feeds on aquatic vegetation, fish, aquatic invertebrates and occasionally eggs of other aquatic nesting bird species. Its floating nest is made of dead reeds and grass and is anchored in dense vegetation. Females will often lay their eggs in the nests of other female coots to be raised by the foster parents. During the winter, flocks of these birds regularly congregate on golf course ponds, fairways and tees where they walk around on their extra large feet and disrupt golfers.

The four-digit banding code is AMCO.


Marsh / swamp

Open water
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View Citation

You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: American Coot
  • Author(s): Dr. Biology
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: July 13, 2017
  • Date accessed: March 6, 2024
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/american-coot

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (2017, July 13). American Coot. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved March 6, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/american-coot

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "American Coot". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 July, 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/american-coot

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "American Coot". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 6 Mar 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/american-coot

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
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