Coot - Fulica atra
A member of the rail family Rallidae and fond of swimming in open water even though unlike ducks coots do not have webbed feet. The distinctive white shield above the white beak earns it the title 'bald', hence the saying 'bald as a Coot'. These birds have been known to kill their own young if they have too many young to feed which is usually the youngest of the brood. Males are normally the more aggressive than the female, if an intruder enters their territory they will use their large feet and claws to chase them away using their spattering behaviour.
Coot - Fulica atra
A member of the rail family Rallidae and fond of swimming in open water even though unlike ducks coots do not have webbed feet. The distinctive white shield above the white beak earns it the title 'bald', hence the saying 'bald as a Coot'. These birds have been known to kill their own young if they have too many young to feed which is usually the youngest of the brood. Males are normally the more aggressive than the female, if an intruder enters their territory they will use their large feet and claws to chase them away using their spattering behaviour.