Fulica atra

2 Eurasian Coot at Red Hill, ACT

Fulica atra at Red Hill, ACT - 31 Aug 2019
Fulica atra at Red Hill, ACT - 31 Aug 2019
Fulica atra at Red Hill, ACT - 31 Aug 2019
Fulica atra at Red Hill, ACT - 31 Aug 2019
Fulica atra at Red Hill, ACT - 31 Aug 2019
Request use of media

Identification history

Fulica atra 9 Sep 2019 ArcherCallaway
Fulica atra 8 Sep 2019 BIrdsinCanberra

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

The female was on a raised area in the pond. I heard another coot (the male) make a repetitive, single note call. He came from under the bank where I was, out of some reeds. Initially, I thought he had become aware of me and was sounding an alarm but the female did not move. In looking at the photographs later I noted her body appeared to change as the male approached. In the photos before the mating her body was plump, while when she was aware the male was approaching, her body slimmed down. She did not try to avoid the male, who took a circular route around the pond’s edge to approach her directly from behind. She appeared to ready herself. The male climbed onto her back and her head went under water. He was not on her back for long, possibly 10 seconds, I was not counting, then he raised his wings to climb down. She kept her head arched down but she came out of the water. He then moved away from her.

Be the first to comment


Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • True Nesting site

Species information

  • Fulica atra Scientific name
  • Eurasian Coot Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local native
  • Non-invasive or negligible
  • Up to 1108.7m Recorded at altitude
  • 267 images trained Machine learning
  • External link More information

Record quality

  • Overall Fit for scientific/research use
  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
1,897,619 sightings of 21,097 species in 9,305 locations from 12,945 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.