American Coot (Fulica Americana) Michael Sanders
Monroe Co., MI. 6/6/2006 © Allen Chartier
(Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II)
Formerly known as the Mud Hen or Crow Distribution Duck (Barrows 1912), the American Coot is the Historically, the American Coot was a more “most abundant and widely distributed species common component of Michigan’s fauna. Early of rail in North America.” (Brisbin and observers suggested that the species nested in Mowbray 2002). American Coots can be “great numbers” on the St. Clair Flats (Wood distinguished from Common Moorhens by their 1951) and in “all suitable places” from these milk-white bill and by white tips along their Flats northward to Lake Superior (Barrows secondary feathers. Breeding occurs across 1912). Although Pettingill (1974) noted it as Canada from British Columbia to Quebec; and “common” in the NLP in the 1970s, it probably southward throughout the western and central refers to the coot’s abundance during migration U.S. and into Central America (Cornell Lab of (Bielby 1991). Roughly half of Michigan’s pre- Ornithology 2010). Large breeding settlement wetlands have disappeared, including concentrations occur in the Prairie-Pothole most of the state’s coastal lowlands (Cwikiel Region of Canada and the U.S. (Brisbin and 1998); additionally, several prime coot breeding Mowbray 2002). Michigan lies at the eastern areas along the Great Lakes were eliminated due end of the breeding range. The winter range to high water levels in the mid-1980s (Adams extends from western and south-central U.S. 1991). The current nesting scarcity of the into southern Central America (Cornell Lab of species is echoed in neighboring states. Ornithology 2010). Some hardy individuals American Coots were reported in only 5% of overwinter in southern Michigan, where they survey blocks in Indiana (Keller and Castrale often turn up on Christmas Bird Counts, 1998) and Wisconsin (Bartelt 2006), and in only although many suffer late winter mortality as a 2% of blocks in Ohio (Peterjohn and Rice result of starvation and exposure (Brisbin and 1991). Mowbray 2002). A common migrant in the state, American Coots are most frequently seen The overall distribution pattern for American in Michigan in large flocks during spring and Coots in Michigan changed little between atlas fall. periods; the species continues to be most abundant in the SLP where suitable habitat is more available, although declines occurred in
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center American Coot (Fulica Americana) Michael Sanders most counties along the Lake Michigan Conservation Needs shoreline. The wide distribution of inland American Coots are closely linked to marshes observations in the SLP attest to the importance with emergent vegetation, and their numbers of interior wetlands to the conservation of the will decline if such habitat is destroyed or species. Overall block occurrences dropped by degraded (Bartlett 2006). The species is 43% (100 from 174) and township-level sensitive to seasonal precipitation cycles; observations dropped by 36% (83 from 130). drought can reduce reproductive success and Breeding confirmations fell sharply by 68% abundance (Medler 2006). Management efforts statewide (18 from 56); there was only one should concentrate on establishing wetlands confirmed nesting in the NLP and none in the with an appropriate mosaic of open water and UP. emergent vegetation that can result in maximum breeding densities; deep flooding, mowing, and Breeding Biology burning can reduce vegetation and create open The American Coot has been described as a areas unsuitable for nesting (Brisbin and “bird with an attitude” owing to the fierceness Mowbray 2002). with which it will often challenge almost anything or anyone that enters its territory American Coots are a game species in Michigan (Bartelt 2006). Arriving in Michigan by late and other Great Lake states, but are probably March, coots inhabit deep-water marshes with harvested little throughout the region (Brisbin abundant emergent vegetation such as cattails and Mowbray 2002). American Coots are and bulrushes (Bartelt 2006). Nests are large susceptible to tower kills, which may pose an floating platforms comprised predominantly of increased threat as the number of cattails and reeds; pairs also construct extra communication towers and wind turbines platforms which act as brooding areas utilized increase across the landscape (Shire et al. 2000). by young for resting (Baicich and Harrison Common Moorhen and Redhead commonly 1997). Precocial young feed themselves by one parasitize the nests of this species, although the month and are independent by two months overall effects are probably nonsignificant (Baicich and Harrison 1997). (Brisbin et al 2002).
Abundance and Population Trends Literature Cited Mirroring MBBA II findings, North American BBS data from 1966-2007 indicate a statistically Adams, R.J., Jr. 1991. Least Bittern (Ixobrychus significant annual decline of 6.0% for the exilis). In Brewer, R., G.A. McPeek, and American Coot in the Upper Midwest (Sauer et R.J. Adams, Jr. (eds.). 1991. The Atlas of al. 2008). Marsh Monitoring Program data from Breeding Birds of Michigan. Michigan 1995-2003 indicate a nonsignificant decline in State University Press. East Lansing, MI. the Great Lakes Basin (Medler 2006). While Baicich, P.J., and C.J.O. Harrison. 1997. A these and other large-scale surveys do not Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of adequately census secretive marsh birds like North American Birds. Second Edition. American Coots, BBS data are useful for Natural World, Academic Press, San Diego, suggesting general trends and patterns (Monfils CA. 2003, Kleen et al. 2004). It is clear that Barrows, W.B. 1912. Michigan Bird Life. American Coots are declining across the Great Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Lakes region, with habitat loss as the likeliest Bulletin No. 94. East Lansing, MI. primary factor in their decline. Bartelt, G. 2006. American Coot (Fulica americana). In Cutright, N.J., B.R.
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center American Coot (Fulica Americana) Michael Sanders
Harriman, and R.W. Howe (eds.). 2006. Pettengill, O.S., Jr. 1974. Ornithology at the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Wisconsin. University of Michigan Biological Station Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. and the Birds of the Region. Kalamazoo Waukesha, WI. Nature Center, Kalamazoo, MI. Bielby, G.H. 1991. American Coot (Fulica Raftovich, R.V., K.A. Wilkins, K.D. Richkus, americana). In Brewer, R., G.A. McPeek, S.S. Williams, and H.L. Spriggs. 2009. and R.J. Adams, Jr. (eds.). 1991. The Atlas Migratory bird hunting activity and harvest of Breeding Birds of Michigan. Michigan during the 2007 and 2008 hunting seasons. State University Press, East Lansing. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laurel, MD. Brisbin, I.L., Jr. and T.B. Mowbray. 2002. Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2008. The American Coot (Fulica americana). In The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Birds of North America, No. 697 (A. Poole Results and Analysis 1966 - 2007. Version and F. Gill, eds.) The Birds of North 5.15.2008. USGS Patuxent Wildlife America, Inc. Philadelphia, PA. Research Center, Laurel, MD. Accessed 24 Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2010. All About November 2009. Birds. Available online at: Shire, G.G., K. Brown, and G. Winegrad. 2000.
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