[Length 15.5 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

Coots have lobed toes which help them swim, and they often swim in loose flocks with ducks. American Coots are common throughout much of Canada and the US on small lakes and park ponds, where they often beg for food along with the more typical park Mallards and Mute Swans. They can become quite tame and will readily accept food offered to them. They are often seen foraging like chickens on grassy areas near the water. This one was photographed at Lake Meade NRA, Nevada, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: September 1979)

[Length 15.5 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

This American Coot was photographed at Arapaho NWR in Walden, Colorado, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1992)

[Length 15.5 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

This American Coot was photographed at the Andrews Bird Viewing Trail, Andrews, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC20E II 2.0x Teleconverter (EFL=900mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: October 25, 2007)

[Length 15.5 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

This American Coot was photographed at the NAS Sabal Palms Sanctuary, Brownsville, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: February 13, 2008)

[Length 15.5 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

This American Coot family was photographed at the Andrews Bird Viewing Trail, Andrews, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=420mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: October 17, 2008)

[Length 15.5 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

American Coots are one of many "water birds" which must "run" along the water to gain enough speed to fly. Check out those big toes! This American Coot was photographed at the Andrews Bird Viewing Trail, Andrews, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=405mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: October 31, 2008)

[Length 15.5 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

This American Coot "running" on the water was photographed at the Andrews Bird Viewing Trail, Andrews, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: November 26, 2008)

[Length 15.5 in. Wingspan 24 in.]

This American Coot was photographed at Lake Balmorhea, Balmorhea, Texas, USA. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: December 21, 2008)