Green Islands Magazine MAR-APR '20

Page 3

YO U R B AC K YA R D AMERICAN COOT

By Renell Roebuck, Interpretive Naturalist

If you look out over the water at Nimisila

vegetation — they are lobed instead of

Reservoir Metro Park, you might see

webbed like those of a duck or goose.

a rather strange-looking bird paddling

This adaptation allows the coot to forage

by with its head bobbing forward and

in wetlands for plants and small aquatic

back. It is medium-sized, charcoal gray

critters like snails and tadpoles. Coots

and has a white beak and face shield.

find food both above and below the

Below the surface, it paddles through

water, as well as on land.

the water using its unusual, but welladapted feet. This bird is the American coot (Fulica americana), also known as a mud hen.

The next time you are out in Summit Metro Parks, try to sneak a peak at this curious bird and its unusual feet!

Its feet are designed for swimming and walking around on matted wetland summitmetroparks.org

3


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.