As cool as a coot ? Central Park

A coot is not a duck. Notice its lobed toes (vs. the webbed feet of waterfowl). The bird is actually more closely related to cranes (e.g. the 'whooping crane'). It does, however, mingle with Mallards and Shovelers both for the purpose of hiding from predators (security in numbers)… and for stealing their food. The highly aggressive coot does know how to dive for its own food (aquatic vegetation) yet when in the company of ducks at least, it appears the benefits of attack and theft clearly outweigh the cost of potential injury from a self-defending victim. Coots nest north and west of NY and spend the winter from here down to Florida.

Images by Valerie Druguet


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