American Coot
American Coot Information
Length: 13 - 16"
Breeding Habitat: Freshwater marshes, lakes, ponds, wet meadows, marshy edges of rivers and streams. Requires some shallow water for feeding and some marsh vegetation for cover.
Diet: Mostly vegetable matter, including leaves, roots, and seeds of aquatic plants; algae; insects, fish, tadpoles, crustaceans, worms; sometimes, the eggs of other birds.
Calls of the American Coot
Identification tips for the American Coot Additional Information
American CootTaxonomy, description, distribution and habitat, behavior, feeding, reproduction, predators, and conservation status. Includes photos and range map. (From Wikipedia)
American Coot with Chicks
By Mike Baird [CC 2.0]
Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015
(Image credit: USGS)
Range in New England
In this region, the American Coot is seen in migration in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
This bird is found breeding in small, isolated areas in New England, including far northwestern Vermont, northeastern Massachusetts, and south central Maine.
During the winter, this coot can be seen in southeastern Massachusetts, southern Connecticut, and southern Rhode Island.
Map from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Range map for American Coot