American Coot

Size: 13 – 16 inches

Can be found in ponds, marshes, lakes, on the edges of the Bay, and city parks.

Food: mostly algae, some fish, tadpoles, worms, snails, insects, crustaceans, insects and eggs of other birds.

Surface dips, steals food from ducks.

Nest: floating (fresh water)

In Marin: year round

Coots are not ducks. They do not have webbed feet.

Sounds: croaking kuk and ka-ha-ha