Eurasian Coot

How to recognise it

• Slate-black with a rounded body, small round head and white trailing edge in flight
• Short, thick bill, whitish with a pink tone, running up into a bare frontal shield
• Red iris and sturdy green legs with lobed toes instead of webbed feet
• Male has a larger frontal shield than female, juvenile is greyish brown without a shield

Call and song

The Eurasian Coot is noisy, giving cracked "köck" notes and explosive, sharp "pitts". The typical croaking but somewhat melodic "krök" comes from the female, while the male's calls are toneless and smacking, like a champagne cork popping. On spring nights a trumpeting "pä pä-äu" is heard, often from birds flying around.

Where and when

The Eurasian Coot is a partial migrant that breeds in Sweden. It is common on lakes and sea bays rich in vegetation in Götaland and Svealand and along the southern Norrland coast. Many simply move away from the ice and winter in harbours further south, while others migrate to Western Europe. It is reported all year, and its share of all bird reports is highest in Stockholm, Skåne and Södermanland.

Food and behaviour

It eats water plants, algae, grass and small animals such as insects and mussels. It nods its head as it swims, and before diving it makes a small jump and usually stays under only briefly. To take off it runs with pattering steps across the water while beating its wings. Outside the breeding season coots can gather in large flocks.