Watch this video I got of an American Coot at Akerman Park in Sarasota, Florida. You can see it pecking at a white area on it's tail. This is an oil gland that it gets an oily substance onto it's beak and then rubs onto it's feathers. This gives it a water resistance to it's feathers and allows it to dive under water without getting it's feathers water logged. Many birds do not have this and have to get out of the water to dry off. The Coot is found just about everywhere in North America. It does tend to migrate in the winter. They seem to always be in Florida year-round. They are monogamous only breeding with one partner a year.
https://youtu.be/l-AEjMykx9A
Here is a picture I got of a large flock of Coots at The Celery Fields in Florida. They tend to go around in flocks most of the year, but can be found in small groups or alone.
They are sometimes confused - at a distance- with the Common Gallinule, but as you can see the Gallinule has a red forehead and bill.
100% my original work! Except where noted. Copyright 2018 ® Mark Vance Photography
I am an award winning photographer and filmmaker. Many of my pictures have been used in TV Shows and Feature Films, such as "Zero Dark Thirty", "NCIS Los Angeles" and "The Walking Dead".
Many of my bird pictures and videos have been used by The National Audubon Society and Sarasota Audubon and used on several TV shows, like "Animal Outtakes" on ABC. Enjoy!