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{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{Taxobox
{{speciesbox
| name = Red-knobbed coot
| name = Red-knobbed coot
| status = LC
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{IUCN|id=22692907 |title=''Fulica cristata'' |assessors=[[BirdLife International]] |version=2013.2 |year=2012 |accessdate=26 November 2013}}</ref>
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Fulica cristata'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22692907A89656879 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692907A89656879.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Fulica cristata -Cape Town, South Africa -adult-8.jpg
| image = Fulica cristata -Cape Town, South Africa -adult-8.jpg
| image2 =Red-knobbed Coot (or Crested Coot), Fulica cristata flying over the water at Marievale. (8131770389).jpg
| image_width = 300px
| image_caption=In Cape Town, South Africa
| image2_caption=Adult birds in South Africa
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| genus = Fulica
⚫
| species = cristata
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
⚫
| authority = [[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin, JF]], 1789
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Gruiformes]]
| familia = [[Rallidae]]
| genus = ''[[Fulica]]''
⚫
| species = '''''F. cristata'''''
| binomial = ''Fulica cristata''
⚫
| binomial_authority = [[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1789
}}
}}


The '''red-knobbed coot''' or '''crested coot''', (''Fulica cristata''), is a member of the rail and crake [[bird]] family, the [[Rallidae]].
The '''red-knobbed coot''' or '''crested coot''', ('''''Fulica cristata'''''), is a member of the rail and crake [[bird]] family, the [[Rallidae]].


It is a resident breeder across much of [[Africa]] and in southernmost [[Spain]] on freshwater lakes and ponds. It builds a nest of dead reeds near the water's edge or more commonly afloat, laying about 8 eggs (or more in good conditions).<ref name=Liv>Liversidge, Richard. “The birds around us: Birds of the Southern African region” Pub: Fontein 1991 ISBN 978-1-874851-01-1</ref> However, its behaviour towards its own young is so aggressive that only a few are likely to survive to adulthood.
It is a resident breeder across much of [[Africa]] and in southernmost [[Spain]] on freshwater lakes and ponds. It builds a nest of dead reeds near the water's edge or more commonly afloat, laying about 7 eggs (or more in good conditions).<ref name=Liv>Liversidge, Richard. “The birds around us: Birds of the Southern African region” Pub: Fontein 1991 {{ISBN|978-1-874851-01-1}}</ref>


==Taxonomy==
⚫
==Description and identification==
The red-knobbed coot was [[Species description|formally described]] in 1789 by the German naturalist [[Johann Friedrich Gmelin]] in his revised and expanded edition of [[Carl Linnaeus]]'s ''[[Systema Naturae]]''. He placed it with all the other coots in the [[genus]] ''[[Fulica (genus)|Fulica]]'' and coined the [[binomial nomenclature|binomial name]] ''Fulica cristata''.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Gmelin | first=Johann Friedrich | author-link=Johann Friedrich Gmelin| year=1789 | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | edition=13th | volume=1, Part 2 | language=Latin | location=Lipsiae [Leipzig] | publisher=Georg. Emanuel. Beer | page=704 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2656197 }}</ref> Gmelin based his account on the earlier descriptions by the French naturalist [[Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon]] and the English ornithologist [[John Latham (ornithologist)|John Latham]], neither of whom had included a binomial name. They gave the [[type locality (biology)|type locality]] as [[Madagascar]].<ref>{{ cite book | last=Buffon | first=Georges-Louis Leclerc de | author-link=Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon | year=1781 | title=Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux | volume=8 | location=Paris | publisher=De l'Imprimerie Royale | page=222 | chapter=Le grande foulque à crête | language=French | chapter-url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1069722m/f278.item}}</ref><ref>{{ cite book | last1=Buffon | first1=Georges-Louis Leclerc de | author1-link=Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon | last2=Martinet | first2=François-Nicolas | author2-link=François-Nicolas Martinet | last3=Daubenton | first3=Edme-Louis | author3-link=Edme-Louis Daubenton | last4=Daubenton | first4=Louis-Jean-Marie | author4-link=Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton | year=1765–1783 | chapter=Foulque de Madagascar | title=Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle | volume=8 | location=Paris | publisher=De L'Imprimerie Royale | at=Plate 797 | chapter-url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35218489 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite book | last=Latham | first=John | author-link=John Latham (ornithologist) | year=1785 | title=A General Synopsis of Birds | volume=3, Part 1 | publisher=Printed for Leigh and Sotheby | location=London | page=278; Plate 90 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40079059 }}</ref> The genus ''Fulica'' had been introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist [[Carl Linnaeus]] in the [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|tenth edition]] of his ''Systema Naturae''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1758 | title= Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | volume=1 | edition=10th | page=152 | publisher=Laurentii Salvii | location=Holmiae (Stockholm) | language=Latin | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/727059 }}</ref> The genus name is the [[Latin]] word for a [[Eurasian coot]]. The specific epithet ''cristata'' is from Latin ''cristatus'' meaning "crested" or "plumed".<ref>{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | pages=[https://archive.org/stream/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling#page/n165/mode/1up 165], [https://archive.org/stream/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling#page/n122/mode/1up 122y]}}</ref> The species is [[monotypic]]: no [[subspecies]] are recognised.<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date= August 2022 | title=Flufftails, finfoots, rails, trumpeters, cranes, limpkin | work=IOC World Bird List Version 12.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/flufftails/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=12 October 2022 }}</ref>
⚫
[[File:Fulica cristata -Cape Town, South Africa -head -adult-8.jpg|left|thumb|Upper body of a bird in breeding condition in South Africa]]
The red-knobbed coot is largely black except for the white [[frontal shield]]. It is {{convert|38|-|45|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, spans {{convert|75|-|85|cm|in|abbr=on}} across the wings and weighs {{convert|585|-|1085|g|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "CRC">''CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses'' by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (1992), ISBN 978-0-8493-4258-5.</ref><ref>[http://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-red-knobbed-coot.html] (2011).</ref> As a swimming species, it has partial webbing on its long strong toes. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult's black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old, some time later.


⚫
==Description==
⚫
A good view is necessary to separate this species from the [[Eurasian coot]], with which its range overlaps. There are two tiny red knobs at the top of the facial shield, which are not visible at any great distance and are only present in the breeding season; the black feathering between the shield and the bill is rounded, whereas in Eurasian it comes to a point; and the bill has a bluish grey tinge. In flight, the red-knobbed coot lacks the white trailing edge to the secondaries of the Eurasian coot.
⚫
[[File:Fulica cristata -Cape Town, South Africa -head -adult-8.jpg|left|thumb|Head of a bird in breeding condition, South Africa]]
[[File:Red-knobbed coot (Fulica cristata) non-breeding.jpg|left|thumb|non-breeding condition, [[Ethiopia]]]]
The red-knobbed coot is largely black except for the white [[frontal shield]]. It is {{cvt|35|-|42|cm}} long, spans {{cvt|75|-|85|cm}} across the wings. Males weigh {{cvt|770|-|910|g}}, females are slightly smaller and weigh {{cvt|455|-|790|g}}. The sexes are alike. As a swimming species, it has partial webbing on its long strong toes. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult's black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old, some time later.<ref name=hbw>{{ cite book | last=Taylor | first=P.B. | year=1996 | chapter=Red-knobbed coot | editor1-last=del Hoyo | editor1-first=J. | editor2-last=Elliott | editor2-first=A. | editor3-last=Sargatal | editor3-first=J. | title=Handbook of the Birds of the World | volume=3: Hoatzin to Auks | location=Barcelona, Spain | publisher=Lynx Edicions | isbn=978-84-87334-20-7 | page=205 | chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0003unse/page/205/mode/1up | chapter-url-access=registration }}</ref>

A good view is necessary to separate this species from the [[Eurasian coot]], with which its range overlaps in northwestern
⚫
Africa and southern Iberia. There are two tiny red knobs at the top of the facial shield, which are not visible at any great distance and are only present in the breeding season; the black feathering between the shield and the bill is rounded, whereas in Eurasian it comes to a point; and the bill has a bluish grey tinge. In flight, the red-knobbed coot lacks the white trailing edge to the [[Flight feather#secondaries|secondaries]] of the Eurasian coot.<ref name=hbw/>


==Behaviour==
==Behaviour==
[[File:Fulica cristata, legsel, Little Eden.jpg|right|thumb|Clutch]]
[[File:Fulica cristata-pjt2.jpg|right|thumb|Nest on the island of [[Mallorca]]]]
[[File:Fulica cristata MWNH 0098.JPG|thumb|Eggs, Collection [[Museum Wiesbaden]]]]
[[File:Fulica cristata MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.68.5.jpg|thumb|Clutch from Morocco]]
[[File:Fulica cristata -adult and chick-8a.jpg|right|thumb|Adult and chick]]
[[File:Fulica cristata00.jpg|right|thumb|Adult feeding a chick.]]
The habits of the red-knobbed coot are practically identical to those of the Eurasian coot. It is much less secretive than most of the rail family. Where it is undisturbed it is likely to bully any intruder, even large birds such as [[Egyptian geese]], if they do not defy its challenges.<ref name=Liv/> It can be seen swimming on open water or walking across waterside grasslands. It is an aggressive species, and strongly territorial during the breeding season.
The habits of the red-knobbed coot are practically identical to those of the Eurasian coot. It is much less secretive than most of the rail family. Where it is undisturbed it is likely to bully any intruder, even large birds such as [[Egyptian geese]], if they do not defy its challenges.<ref name=Liv/> It can be seen swimming on open water or walking across waterside grasslands. It is an aggressive species, and strongly territorial during the breeding season.


The red-knobbed coot is reluctant to fly and when taking off runs across the water surface with much splashing. It does the same, but without actually flying, when travelling a short distance at speed (to escape a rival, for example, or to dispute possession of a choice morsel). It bobs its head as it swims, and makes short dives from a little jump.
The red-knobbed coot is reluctant to fly and when taking off runs across the water surface with much splashing. It does the same, but without actually flying, when travelling a short distance at speed (to escape a rival, for example, or to dispute possession of a choice morsel). It bobs its head as it swims, and makes short dives from a little jump.


===Breeding===
⚫
The red-knobbed coot is an omnivore, and will take a variety of small live prey including the eggs of other water birds. Its main food in most waters however comprises various waterweeds such as species of [[Potamogeton]] for which it commonly dives.<ref>MacLean, Gordon L., Roberts, Austin; “Roberts Birds of Southern Africa”. Pub. Hyperion Books 1988. ISBN 978-1-85368-037-3</ref>
The nest is a bulky platform of reeds and plant stems placed in shallow water. It is built by both sexes. The clutch of 5–7 eggs are laid at daily intervals. The eggs are incubated by both sexes for 18–25 days and hatch asynchronously. The downy [[precocial]] chicks leave the nest after one day and are then fed and cared for by both parents for 55–60 days.<ref name=hbw/>


===Food and feeding===
⚫
This is a noisy bird during mating, but its vocalisations are quite different from the Eurasian coot. It gives a fast ''kerrre'' like the [[little crake]], a harsh ''ka-haa'' and a grunting hoot "oot oot" that suggests that the name "coot" might be onomatopoeia, but inspection of the etymology of "coot" fairly decisively negates any such suggestion.<ref name="isbn0-19-860575-7">{{cite book |author=Brown, Lesley; Trumble, William R.; Stevenson, Angus |title=Shorter Oxford English dictionary on historical principles |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford [Oxfordshire] |year=2002 |pages= |isbn=0-19-860575-7 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref>
⚫
The red-knobbed coot is an omnivore, and will take a variety of small live prey including the eggs of other water birds. Its main food in most waters however comprises various waterweeds such as species of [[Potamogeton]] for which it commonly dives.<ref>MacLean, Gordon L., Roberts, Austin; “Roberts Birds of Southern Africa”. Pub. Hyperion Books 1988. {{ISBN|978-1-85368-037-3}}</ref>

⚫
This is a noisy bird during mating, but its vocalisations are quite different from the Eurasian coot. It gives a fast ''kerrre'' like the [[little crake]], a harsh ''ka-haa'' and a grunting hoot "oot oot" that suggests that the name "coot" might be onomatopoeia, but inspection of the etymology of "coot" fairly decisively negates any such suggestion.<ref name="isbn0-19-860575-7">{{cite book |author1=Brown, Lesley |author2=Trumble, William R. |author3=Stevenson, Angus |title=Shorter Oxford English dictionary on historical principles |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford [Oxfordshire] |year=2002 |isbn=0-19-860575-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/shorteroxfordeng00will_0 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

⚫
* ''Rails'' by Taylor and van Perlo, ISBN 90-74345-20-4
==Sources==
⚫
* ''Rails'' by Taylor and van Perlo, {{ISBN|90-74345-20-4}}
* [[Forsman, Dick]] (1991) Aspects of identification of Crested Coot ''[[Dutch Birding]]'' 13(4): 121-25
* [[Forsman, Dick]] (1991) Aspects of identification of Crested Coot ''[[Dutch Birding]]'' 13(4): 121-25


Line 50: Line 56:
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/red-knobbed-coot-fulica-cristata Red-knobbed coot videos, photos & sounds] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/red-knobbed-coot-fulica-cristata Red-knobbed coot videos, photos & sounds] on the Internet Bird Collection


{{Taxonbar|from=Q748033}}
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[[Category:Fulica]]

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[[Category:Birds of Africa]]
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[[Category:Fulica (genus)|red-knobbed coot]]
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[[Category:Birds of East Africa]]
[[Category:Birds of North Africa]]
[[Category:Birds of Southern Africa]]
[[Category:Birds of Europe]]
[[Category:Birds of Europe]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1789|red-knobbed coot]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin|red-knobbed coot]]

Latest revision as of 09:54, 13 October 2022

Red-knobbed coot
Adult birds in South Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Fulica
Species:
F. cristata
Binomial name
Fulica cristata

The red-knobbed coot or crested coot, (Fulica cristata), is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae.

It is a resident breeder across much of Africa and in southernmost Spain on freshwater lakes and ponds. It builds a nest of dead reeds near the water's edge or more commonly afloat, laying about 7 eggs (or more in good conditions).[2]

Taxonomy

[edit]

The red-knobbed coot was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the other coots in the genus Fulica and coined the binomial name Fulica cristata.[3] Gmelin based his account on the earlier descriptions by the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon and the English ornithologist John Latham, neither of whom had included a binomial name. They gave the type locality as Madagascar.[4][5][6] The genus Fulica had been introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae.[7] The genus name is the Latin word for a Eurasian coot. The specific epithet cristata is from Latin cristatus meaning "crested" or "plumed".[8] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.[9]

Description

[edit]
Head of a bird in breeding condition, South Africa
non-breeding condition, Ethiopia

The red-knobbed coot is largely black except for the white frontal shield. It is 35–42 cm (14–17 in) long, spans 75–85 cm (30–33 in) across the wings. Males weigh 770–910 g (27–32 oz), females are slightly smaller and weigh 455–790 g (16.0–27.9 oz). The sexes are alike. As a swimming species, it has partial webbing on its long strong toes. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult's black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old, some time later.[10]

A good view is necessary to separate this species from the Eurasian coot, with which its range overlaps in northwestern Africa and southern Iberia. There are two tiny red knobs at the top of the facial shield, which are not visible at any great distance and are only present in the breeding season; the black feathering between the shield and the bill is rounded, whereas in Eurasian it comes to a point; and the bill has a bluish grey tinge. In flight, the red-knobbed coot lacks the white trailing edge to the secondaries of the Eurasian coot.[10]

Behaviour

[edit]
Nest on the island of Mallorca
Clutch from Morocco
Adult feeding a chick.

The habits of the red-knobbed coot are practically identical to those of the Eurasian coot. It is much less secretive than most of the rail family. Where it is undisturbed it is likely to bully any intruder, even large birds such as Egyptian geese, if they do not defy its challenges.[2] It can be seen swimming on open water or walking across waterside grasslands. It is an aggressive species, and strongly territorial during the breeding season.

The red-knobbed coot is reluctant to fly and when taking off runs across the water surface with much splashing. It does the same, but without actually flying, when travelling a short distance at speed (to escape a rival, for example, or to dispute possession of a choice morsel). It bobs its head as it swims, and makes short dives from a little jump.

Breeding

[edit]

The nest is a bulky platform of reeds and plant stems placed in shallow water. It is built by both sexes. The clutch of 5–7 eggs are laid at daily intervals. The eggs are incubated by both sexes for 18–25 days and hatch asynchronously. The downy precocial chicks leave the nest after one day and are then fed and cared for by both parents for 55–60 days.[10]

Food and feeding

[edit]

The red-knobbed coot is an omnivore, and will take a variety of small live prey including the eggs of other water birds. Its main food in most waters however comprises various waterweeds such as species of Potamogeton for which it commonly dives.[11]

This is a noisy bird during mating, but its vocalisations are quite different from the Eurasian coot. It gives a fast kerrre like the little crake, a harsh ka-haa and a grunting hoot "oot oot" that suggests that the name "coot" might be onomatopoeia, but inspection of the etymology of "coot" fairly decisively negates any such suggestion.[12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Fulica cristata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22692907A89656879. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692907A89656879.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Liversidge, Richard. “The birds around us: Birds of the Southern African region” Pub: Fontein 1991 ISBN 978-1-874851-01-1
  3. ^ Gmelin, Johann Friedrich (1789). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 2 (13th ed.). Lipsiae [Leipzig]: Georg. Emanuel. Beer. p. 704.
  4. ^ Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc de (1781). "Le grande foulque à crête". Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux (in French). Vol. 8. Paris: De l'Imprimerie Royale. p. 222.
  5. ^ Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc de; Martinet, François-Nicolas; Daubenton, Edme-Louis; Daubenton, Louis-Jean-Marie (1765–1783). "Foulque de Madagascar". Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle. Vol. 8. Paris: De L'Imprimerie Royale. Plate 797.
  6. ^ Latham, John (1785). A General Synopsis of Birds. Vol. 3, Part 1. London: Printed for Leigh and Sotheby. p. 278; Plate 90.
  7. ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 152.
  8. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 165, 122y. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  9. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2022). "Flufftails, finfoots, rails, trumpeters, cranes, limpkin". IOC World Bird List Version 12.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Taylor, P.B. (1996). "Red-knobbed coot". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. p. 205. ISBN 978-84-87334-20-7.
  11. ^ MacLean, Gordon L., Roberts, Austin; “Roberts Birds of Southern Africa”. Pub. Hyperion Books 1988. ISBN 978-1-85368-037-3
  12. ^ Brown, Lesley; Trumble, William R.; Stevenson, Angus (2002). Shorter Oxford English dictionary on historical principles. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860575-7.

Sources

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fulica cristata, Fulica and Rallidae.
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