Fulica atra - Common Coot
Feather characters. Barbules are from short until medium length (0.4-1.4 mm). Barbules are divided into pigmented nodes and (partly) pigmented internodes. The amount of pigment in the internodes is variable. Vase shaped nodes are located on proximal end of barbules (14-24 per mm). Over a short distance these nodes abruptly decrease in size, becoming slightly thickened on distal end. Occasionally vase shaped nodes are not found and nodes are only slightly thickened. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Short prongs are mostly located on distal end of the barbules, and on both sides of the pennulum. Their length varies; the longest prongs can reach a length between 0.01 mm and the length of the adjacent internode. Within this species a lot of variability may be seen between feathers of different body parts in nodal structure, prong length and concentration of pigment.
Field characters. Size 38 cm. Weight 555-1150 g (Dunning, 1993). A rotund all-black waterbird with glossy black head and neck and white frontal shield and bill. In flight, shows a narrow white trailing edge along inner wing. Legs green, with large lobed toes. Juvenile brownish-grey with pale white face, throat, foreneck, chest centre and belly. When rising from the water surface, it half flies, half runs over the surface. Dives to bring up water-weeds and takes a distinct "jump" before it submerges.
Voice. Common call is a short, loud "kowk" or "kewk"; produces also various bisyllabic sounds as "kt-koowk", etc. as well as an explosive "pfwitt".
Distribution. Very common resident and summer visitor. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Breeds on lakes, larger ponds, reservoirs, slow rivers, or urban park lakes. Outside the breeding season, gathers on open water of lakes, reservoirs, and estuarine and other brackish waters.
Food. Vegetative parts and seeds of aquatic plants, molluscs, or insects and their larvae, mainly obtained by diving or grazing.