26 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Site of Nest. — Crevices and holes in rocky sea cliffs and caves. 



Occasionally in holes in old ruins. 

 Materials Used. — Sticks, lined with roots, dry grass, wool, and hair. 

 Eggs. — Four or Five. Yellowish-white, spotted with ash-grey and 



light brown. 

 Food. — Carrion, grubs, worms, berries, and grain. 



c. — Chatters something like the Starling; also cries similar to 



the Jackdaw, but note is more ringing and musical. 

 Chief Features. — One of the most interesting members of the Crow 



family, the striking appearance making the Chough a most 



attractive species. It has largely decreased in England as a 



nesting bird. 

 Plumage. — Wholly black, with purple and green reflections; long 



red beak, legs, and feet. Length. — Sixteen inches. 



COOT (Fulica air a) 



Local Names. — Bald Coot, Bald Duck, Bald-Headed Coot, Belpoot, 



Beltie. 

 Haunt. — Lakes and streams, especially where aquatic herbage is 



allowed to grow rank. 

 Nesting Period. — April onwards. 

 Site of Nest. — Always near water, and low down, either hidden 



among reeds, or floating on the surface on the inner margin of 



a patch of water plants. 

 Materials Used. — Reeds, sedges, rushes, and other herbage, lined 



with finer and drier portions of the 



same. Nest varies in size. 

 Eggs. — Seven to Twelve, or more. 



Dingy stone-colour, speckled and 



spotted with dark brown. A 



larger egg than that of the Moor- 

 hen, and not nearly so conspicu- 

 ously marked. 

 Food. — Young shoots of aquatic plants, 



small fish, and worms. 

 Voice. — A clear-ringing, oft-repeated K 5 Coot 



call, which has been written down 



as " k-6," " crew," or " kcw." Not so harsh or metallic as the 



call of the Moorhen. 

 Chief Features. — May be at once distinguished by the white bald 



patch on forehead {see below). Often found in considerable 



numbers. It is stated to be always engaged in two things, 



either fighting or feeding. 

 Plumage. — May be distinguished from the Moorhen by its larger 



