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The American Coot is very much at home walking, swimming and diving and lives in wetlands, marshes, ponds or open bodies of water where it feeds on plants, small fish, various aquatic creatures and insects. |
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| Identification markers include the yellowish legs and very large feet which are suited for land or water. It has a black head, red eye, and gray body. Its white-chicken like bill which extends up the forehead (called a frontal shield) and the way it bobs its head back and forth has resulted in a few nicknames including Marsh and Water Hen. |
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Depending on the season, the American Coot is found across North America, except for the far north. It is a permanent resident of the western and southern parts of the continent. It is about 15 in/38 cm long with a wingspan of 24 in/61 cm. |
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