54 Nebraskaland • August-September 2024
MIXED BAG
Nebraska's birds possess so much beauty. Whether it
be the elegance of an American avocet, refinement of the
black-necked stilt, charm of an eastern bluebird, grandeur
of a whooping crane or grace of the Forster's tern. For all the
aesthetically magnificent birds in the state, there are also
those species that were absent on the day when admirable
attributes were being handed out. Chief among the species
that fail to inspire awe in us humans is the American coot.
Often found among several dapper duck species in marshes
and wetlands, coot flocks can dominate a wetland but
usually fail to attract attention. Its sooty gray color does
not compare to the green-headed mallards or amber-headed
canvasbacks. It plods along in the marsh making squawking
noises. And perhaps the oddest appendage is revealed when
this bird clumsily takes flight. Unlike the webbed feet of
waterfowls that are delicately tucked close to the body
when they take flight, the green feet with lobed toes of the
coot dangle haplessly below its body. However, like most
creatures not burdened by beauty, there is often more to the
indomitable coot than its appearance.
Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of the American
coot are the territorial quarrels they engage in during spring.
Males defend territories and fend off rivals by raising their
wings and extending their necks over the water and charging
toward each other. Actual physical contact is not infrequent,
and their awkward feet are used as weapons to claw at
each other. These scuffles can be constant on marshes with
favorable habitat when males are establishing territories in
spring. Occasionally, the turf battles can result in death of
the weaker bird.
Outside the breeding season, coots will often form dense
flocks on just about any water body. Sometime these flocks
will make landfall, and birds will move onto shore where
they will graze on vegetation. If they are approached by a
perceived predator, including humans, they will collectively
sprint back to the water in an exercise of organized chaos.
While coots may be the Rodney Dangerfield of the bird
world, they also represent an important part of our state's
birdlife, and unlike Rodney, they can get plenty of respect
and appreciation.
NERD OF THE MARSH
By Joel Jorgensen, Nongame Bird Program Manager
An American coot takes fl ight at Conestoga State Recreation Area in Lancaster County. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
