With good views note the red eye and the white shield that is topped with red. Pretty cute, right? On land appears rather chickenlike. When swimming they look like small ducks (and often dive), but on land they look more chickenlike, walking rather than waddling. 8 to 10 pink eggs with brown spots are laid at a time. They have a ramp leading into the water for easier access for the young. Below are some baby photos (shared via Flickr) of the American Coot. At close range you may see a small patch of red on the forehead. Nests are at the edge of reed cover at the pond’s edge. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Right after hatching chicks have bare red spots on their heads, rusty-colored down around their head, and a red bill. They're always a January 1st bird for me; meaning, when I begin counting species for the year, it's pretty much guaranteed that I'll see a few coots on day one. An awkward and often clumsy flier, the American Coot requires long running takeoffs to get airborne. Now, I have to admit that baby coots may not be cute in any conventional sense, but seeing a little family together is heartwarming, and the tender way in which the parents care for their offspring certainly is all kinds of cute. Plump waterbird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. Usually in flocks, they are aggressive and noisy, making a wide variety of calls by day or night. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Although they are related to the secretive rails, they swim in the open like ducks and walk about on shore, making themselves at home on golf courses and city park ponds. Coots are dark-gray to black birds with a bright-white bill and forehead. Note the long lobed toes that help propel it in the water. Their tiny tail, short wings, and large feet are visible on the rare occasions they take flight. Below are some baby photos (shared via Flickr) of the American Coot. 3 New Coloring Pages: Gouldian Finch, Wood Duck & Kookaburra. I never managed to get so close, and in the nest..never. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. See more images of this species in Macaulay Library. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. The American Coot is a plump, chickenlike bird with a rounded head and a sloping bill. Mammalian predators (including red foxes, coyotes, skunks and raccoons) are even less likely to predate coot nests, though nests are regularly destroyed in usurpation by muskrats. To get airborne, coots typically need to beat their wings while running across the water for many yards. Conversely, the bold behavi… Juveniles are paler overall than adults, especially below and lack the adult's shield. The legs are yellow-green. Don't you agree? :). If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? Here are ... Sign up and stay updated about all things Birdorable. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Be sure to check out our (adult) Birdorable American Coot t-shirts & gifts! Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. Now, I have to admit that baby coots may not be cute in any conventional sense, but seeing a little family together is heartwarming, and the tender way in which the parents care for their offspring certainly is all kinds of cute. You’ll find coots eating aquatic plants on almost any body of water. Adults are dark gray overall with a white bill tipped in a ring of black. Look for American Coots at ponds in city parks, in marshes, reservoirs, along the edges of lakes, and in roadside ditches, sewage treatment ponds, and saltwater inlets or saltmarshes. Nature is amazing, these chicks are so ugly their cuties. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots(Order: Gruiformes, Family:Rallidae). The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. :) A lot of good shots here. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. American Coot chicks wear orange plumage and red beaks that are eventually replaced. Both parents incubate the eggs, for around 21 to 25 days. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. Juveniles are pale grayish below with a pale bill. Coots are tough, adaptable waterbirds. The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. Bulky-bodied, ducklike bird with small, pointed bill. The American coot is fairly aggressive in defense of its eggs and, in combination with their protected nesting habitat, undoubtedly helps reduce losses of eggs and young to all but the most determined and effective predators. If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? Follow our tweets and let us know what you're doing, Stay informed about news, free downloads & sales, See our collection of cute bird images and favorite photos, Find t-shirts, stickers and other gifts with our Birdorable birds, Shop Amazon for a selection of Birdorable designs on t-shirts with Prime shipping and free returns, Copyright 2006-2020 Birdorable – All rights reserved, Birdorable is a registered trademark – Terms of Use & Privacy Policy, August 6th, 2010 in, those chicks are so ugly that they become sweet. If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? American crows, black-billed magpies and Forster's tern can sometime take eggs. Adult American Coot with two juveniles Because American Coots are terribly common birds on almost every body of water across nearly the entire North American continent, I pay them very little mind. Typically feeds from the surface of the water but sometimes dives. Found in ponds, marshes, reservoirs, lake edges, roadside ditches, sewage treatment ponds, and saltwater inlets or salt marshes. Both adults construct a nest of about 35cm across.