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page.Coot
Fulica atra
The coot is the commonest member of the rail family and is found throughout all of Europe except the northernmost parts. Birds inhabiting eastern and northern Europe leave their nesting grounds in October to November and fly southwest, those from other parts of the continent are resident or dispersive. Coots arrive at their breeding grounds in March, and soon after the males wage fierce combats amongst themselves to win a mate. The paired birds then begin building a nest in reeds, rushes, grass or other vegetation. It is usually sited away from the water's edge, and leading to it from the water is a ramp of leaves. The structure itself is made of reeds and grasses and sometimes covered with a roof of broken plant stems. The female usually lays six to nine eggs, which she and her partner take turns incubating for about 22, sometimes as many as 24 days. The young hatch successively, the first being led out on the water by the male, who after a few hours swims back to the nest for the next. They are cared for by both parents. Their plumage is black but the head is orangered. Adults place food directly inside their offspring's beaks. The diet consists mostly of green plant parts, but seeds are eaten in autumn, and during the nesting period includes insects and their larvae, molluscs, crustaceans, spiders and other small invertebrates.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
Or on the Ducks: Gadwall : Goldeneye : Goosander : Mallard : Pintail : Pochard : Red Breasted Merganser
Red Crested Pochard : Shellduck : Shoveler : Teal : Tufted Duck : Wigeon
And the rest, in no real order of importance: Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
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