Common Coot

Fulica atra

Common residents with 25,000 pairs breeding in Britain & Ireland.

Migrant, winter visitor of 190,000 on larger waters & coasts.

Also breeds in Europe.

Local scattered population in Southern Europe.

Adults are largely black except for the white bill and frontal shield. The sexes are similar in appearance.[

Juveniles are paler than Adults, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the Adult black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old.

The call is a wide repertoire of crackling, explosive, or trumpeting calls, often given at night.