|
Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea Focha Caribe±a,
|
 |
|
Photo: J. Hornbuckle
|
|
Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea Focha Caribe±a,
|
|
|
Photo: J. Hornbuckle
|
|
IDENTIFICATION: Dark gray with a large, white facial shield. The shield sometimes has a yellow tinge. The shield is broader at the top than in the American Coot. Length: 33-38 cm. VOICE: A variety of clucking and reedy squawks. Audio (M. Oberle). HABITAT: Freshwater ponds and marshes. HABITS: Feeds on algae, plant leaves and seeds; also insects. It forages by dipping its head in the water, or sometimes diving, and will also graze on lawns. Coots have large toes that help it walk on floating vegetation. The toes are partially webbed to aid in swimming. The female lays 4-7 eggs in a reed nest near water. STATUS AND CONSERVATION: An uncommon, permanent resident in marshes in Puerto Rico. This species has declined due to hunting, drainage of wetlands and nest predation by introduced rats, cats, and mongooses. RANGE: Breeds in the Greater Antilles and in northwestern Venezuela. Regular places to find this species are at Serrallés Lakes (PR 512, Km 0.3) near Juana Díaz, and at the Humacao and Ca±o Tiburones nature reserves. TAXONOMY: GRUIFORMES; RALLIDAE. Taxonomists sometimes lump this species with the more widespread American Coot. |
 |
|
Photo: G. Beaton
|
 |
|
Photo: M. Oberle
|
 |
|
Photo: M. Oberle
|
|
References del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of Birds of the World, Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
Ortiz Rosas, P. 1981. Guía del cazador: aves de caza y especies protegidas. Depto. de Recursos Naturales, San Juan, PR. Saliva, J.E. 1994. Vieques y su fauna: Vieques wildlife manual. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Boquerón, PR. Raffaele, H.A. 1989. A guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Princeton. Raffaele, H.A. 1989. Una guía a las aves de Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes. Publishing Resources, Inc., Santurce, PR. Raffaele, H.A., J.W. Wiley, O.H. Garrido, A.R. Keith, and J.I. Raffaele. 1998. Guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton. Taylor, B. Rails. 1998. Rails: a guide to the rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots of the world, Yale University and Pica Press. Next related species in taxonomic order Previous related species in taxonomic order |