Home › Aves › Rallidae › Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
SPECIES PROFILE
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Fulica
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent Europe Africa
DIET
Omnivorous
HABITAT
Wetlands lakes marshes reservoirs
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Gruiformes
FAMILY
Rallidae
GENUS
Fulica
📋 Description
SIZE
36-42 cm long 500-900 g
COLORATION
Black with white frontal shield red eyes
ADAPTATIONS
Webbed feet for swimming dives for food
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Wetlands lakes marshes reservoirs
DIET
Omnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent Europe Africa
REPRODUCTION
Lays 6-10 eggs in reed nests incubated 21-24 days
DIET DETAILS
Plants algae insects small fish
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Wetland drainage pollution
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Aquatic Foragers: Eurasian Coots dive with 700-gram bodies eating 150 grams of plants daily in Bharatpur's wetlands. Their white shields are distinctive.
2
Colonial Swimmers: These coots cover 5000 sq km in Odisha's lakes nesting in reeds. Habitat loss threatens their colonies.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan
Chilika Lake in Odisha
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March Dry season concentrates food for spotting coots
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Spot Eurasian coots swimming in open water or near reeds
