Read about the red-knobbed coot – Bird of the week
They seldom take full flight, but patter when disturbed.
AN ABUNDANT resident, highly nomadic, but no regular migrations.
These coots are found throughout South Africa where water is available. They like estuaries and any inland water, especially with floating water plants, where they feed on these plants, grass, insects and seeds.
They are usually in pairs or large flocks of more than 1 000 birds, especially when not breeding. Spend most of their time swimming in the open water. They often chase each other, pattering across water.
They seldom take full flight, but patter when disturbed. When airborne, they fly strongly with feet extended well beyond the tail. May stand and preen on shoreline.
These coots forage in water from the surface, or by diving and often graze along the shoreline. Their call is a harsh metallic claak.
Breeding takes place in all the months of the year. The nest is a floating platform of vegetation, anchored to waterweed or emerging vegetation. Three up to 11 dotted pinkish buff eggs are laid.
Incubation is 18 to 25 days and the fledgling period lasts from 55 to 60 days.
The Xhosa name is Unompemvana and in Afrikaans die bleshoender.
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