Red-knobbed Coot

Overview

The red-knobbed coot, or crested coot (Fulica cristata), is a water bird belonging to the rail family Rallidae. Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, it is a resident breeder across much of Africa and in southernmost Spain.

Identification

• Largely black plumage with a distinctive white frontal shield, measuring 35–42 cm in length and spanning 75–85 cm across the wings.
• Distinguished from the similar Eurasian coot by two tiny red knobs at the top of the facial shield (visible only during the breeding season) and a bill with a bluish grey tinge.
• In flight, it lacks the white trailing edge on the secondaries seen in the Eurasian coot, and its head-bobbing swimming style involves short dives from a little jump.
• Vocalisations include a fast kerrre similar to the little crake, a harsh ka-haa, and a grunting hoot oot oot.

Habitat

Found as a resident on freshwater lakes and ponds across much of Africa and in southernmost Spain. It often swims on open water or walks across waterside grasslands, building bulky nests of reeds and plant stems in shallow water.

Diet

An omnivore that primarily feeds on various waterweeds, such as species of Potamogeton, for which it commonly dives. It also consumes small live prey and the eggs of other water birds.

Did you know?

This species is highly territorial and aggressive, readily bullying intruders such as Egyptian geese unless they defy its challenges. It is reluctant to fly and runs across the water surface with much splashing even when travelling short distances at speed without taking to the air.