Western Europe Birds & Birding (#10/52): From the Highland Willow Scrub of Scotland to the Aegean Islands in the Sea of Crete, Western Europe is home to over 800 resident, migratory and vagrant birds. From songbirds to gamebirds and from waterfowl to raptors, you can find birds virtually in every nook and cranny of this beautiful area. *All images showcased in this blog series were taken and edited by me.

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

The Eurasian Coot, scientific name Fulica atra, is a fascinating bird that belongs to the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae.

Physical Characteristics:

Physically, the Eurasian Coot is characterized by its largely black body, which contrasts sharply with its white bill and frontal shield. This distinctive appearance has given rise to the phrase “as bald as a coot“, which has been in use since as early as 1430. The bird measures 36–38 cm in length and has a wingspan of 70–80 cm. Males typically weigh around 890 g, while females are slightly lighter at 750 g.

Diet:

When it comes to diet, the Eurasian Coot is an omnivore. It feeds on a variety of small live prey, including the eggs of other water birds. In addition, it consumes algae, vegetation, seeds, and fruit.

Abundance and Distribution:

In terms of abundance, the European population is estimated at 945,000-1,550,000 pairs or 1,890,000-3,090,000 mature individuals. The Eurasian Coot has a very widespread distribution. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of North Africa. It has recently expanded its range into New Zealand. These birds are residents in the milder parts of their range, but populations from much of Asia migrate further south and west in winter as the waters freeze

IUCN Red List Status:

As for its conservation status, the Eurasian Coot is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. This means that it is not currently considered to be at risk of extinction. However, it is worth noting that the species is more threatened in Europe, where suitable habitats have been disappearing. As a result, the European population is listed as near threatened.

EURASIAN COOT WAS LIFER # 784

Eurasian Coot 02 Oct 2022 St James’s Park (do not list Barnacle Goose and other captive birds) | GB-ENG

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