Bird
🐦
🐦
Size
36–38 cm (length)About the size of a small duck
Weight
600–900 gRoughly the weight of a bag of sugar
Lifespan
Around 9 years (up to 18 recorded)
Rarity
Common
M vs F
Look almost identical; males average slightly larger, with a bigger frontal shield
Habitat
Lakes, reservoirs, slow rivers and park ponds
Best time
Year-round; UK numbers rise in winter with continental visitors
Conservation
UK: Green
LC
💡 Did you know?
Coots are famously bad-tempered and will chase other coots off their patch of water!
The white shield on a coot's forehead is used in territorial and mate displays — bigger, brighter shields tend to win more fights and attract more mates.
Often confused with
Moorhen (smaller
red/yellow bill
white flank stripe
no shield)
Mallard (dabbling duck
different bill shape)
0
Be the first to spot this!