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American Coot

Fulica americana

Classification

Class
Aves
Family
Rallidae

The American coot (Fulica americana), also known as a mud hen or pouldeau, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step to facilitate walking on dry land.

Distribution

(c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
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Countries in the Picchu catalog
United States of America · 2,589,062Canada · 244,875Mexico · 63,977United Kingdom · 4,584Netherlands · 4,147Cuba · 2,019France · 1,250Portugal · 37Ireland · 14Iceland · 6Sweden · 1Spain