The American coot, also known as a mud hen or pouldeau, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step in order to facilitate walking on dry land. Coots live near water, typically inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies in North America. Groups of coots are called covers or rafts. The oldest known coot lived to be 22 years old. Source: Wikipedia
Citation:
Gmelin, JF 1789
Reference:
Systema Naturae ed. 13, vol. 1, part 2
1 pt2 p.704
Protonym:
Fulica americana
Type locality:
North America.
Link:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/10286#page/205/mode/1up
Avibase ID:
361EA10C79791B9F
Avibase ID:
avibase-361EA10C
Short link:
https://avibase.ca/361EA10C
Taxonomic Serial Number:
TSN: 176292
Geographic range:
Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current): American Coot [incl. peruviana] ( Fulica americana [incl. peruviana]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023): American Coot [incl. peruviana] ( Fulica americana [incl. peruviana]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024): American Coot [incl. peruviana] ( Fulica americana [incl. peruviana]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013): American or Caribbean Coot ( Fulica [americana or caribaea]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014): American or Caribbean Coot ( Fulica [americana or caribaea]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015): American or Caribbean Coot ( Fulica [americana or caribaea]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016): American or Caribbean Coot [incl. peruviana] ( Fulica [americana or caribaea, incl. peruviana]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017): American or Caribbean Coot [incl. peruviana] ( Fulica [americana or caribaea, incl. peruviana]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018): American Coot [incl. peruviana] ( Fulica americana [incl. peruviana]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020): American Coot [incl. peruviana] ( Fulica americana [incl. peruviana]) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021): American Coot [incl. peruviana] ( Fulica americana [incl. peruviana]) |
Taxonomic status:
Species status: species (alt)
This taxon is a subspecies of
Fulica [americana, alai, ardesiaca]
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Other synonyms
See also the taxonomic synonyms table.
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