Eurasian Coot

Fulica atraLinnaeus, 1758

Also known asKoolidjiKwilitjTul-unGull-on

Least ConcernNative

Order: GRUIFORMES
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Fulica

Conservation: Least Concern
Commonness: Very common
Best seen: Year-round

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The Eurasian coot, also known as the common coot or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-black body, a glossy black head and a white bill with a white frontal shield. The sexes are similar in appearance.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

01
Brilliant white bill and frontal shield
A striking, bright white bill and bare shield on the forehead contrast sharply with the dark head, making it highly conspicuous.
02
Uniformly slaty-black body plumage
Entirely dark grey to black body and head, lacking patterns or streaks, providing a stark backdrop for the white head markings.
03
Small, deep red eye
A distinctive ruby-red eye, often conspicuous against the dark head, visible at closer ranges.
04
Fleshy, lobed toes
Toes feature distinctive fleshy lobes rather than full webbing, a key identifying structural feature when seen on land or in shallow water.

Field specs

Length: 32–42 cm
Weight: 300–848 g
Wingspan: 70 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

While swimming, they exhibit a rhythmic forward-and-back head-bobbing motion and often perform a small upward jump before making short dives underwater.

flight

Taking flight requires a long, splashing run across the water's surface; once airborne, a very narrow white trailing edge is visible on the wings.

plumage

Juveniles are distinguished by their paler overall plumage, whitish throat and breast, and the absence of the adult's prominent white facial shield.

size_and_shape

When seen out of the water, look for exceptionally large, greyish-blue legs and feet featuring prominent scalloped lobes on each toe.

voice

Listen for a noisy repertoire of harsh, explosive 'tewk' or metallic, ringing 'kow' calls that carry easily over open water and are often heard at night.

02 · Where

Where to find it

Breeding range: PAL, OR, AU : widespread
Non-breeding range: Widespread across Australia and New Zealand; nomadic in response to drought/flood.

03 · When