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Red-fronted Coot - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by Fritz73
Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2002
Fulica rufifrons

Identification

Within range, this is one of the smallest coots.

  • Yellow bill
  • Deep red frontal shield
  • White undertail coverts
  • Head shape is typical with peaked crown.

Similar Species

American Coot has a smaller red callus above the white shield and a red ring near the tip of the bill.
From Andean Coot by head shape and the different shape of the frontal shield, overall size and presence vs absence of white undertail coverts.

Distribution

Southern Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, southeastern Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to Tierra del Fuego.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Coastal freshwater lagoons and marshes.

Behaviour

Juvenile
Photo © by rdavis
Valparaiso, Chile, 26 January 2011

Tends to hide in vegetation more than other coots.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3
  3. Arthur Grosset

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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