American coot

American coot, Rondeau Provincial Park, Sept 15, 2016.



Fulica americana
Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead, each one of the coot’s long toes has broad lobes of skin that help it kick through the water. The broad lobes fold back each time the bird lifts its foot, so it doesn’t impede walking on dry land, though it supports the bird’s weight on mucky ground.
source - allaboutbirds-org.


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