83 
RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS 
with brownish on back, and shading through darker on 
neck to blackish on head; edge of wings, lateral under 
tail coverts, and streaks on flanks white. Adults in win¬ 
ter : frontal plate smaller and belly suffused with white. , 
Young: under parts, throat, and sides of head, whitish ; l 
frontal plate rudimentary. Length: 12.00-14.50, wing- 
6.85-7.25, bill (including shield) 1.70-1.80. & 
Distribution. — Whole of tropical and temperate Fig. 95. 
America, from Brazil north to California and eastern Canada. 
Nest. — In tules or grass on edge of pond or wet marsh; made of dry 
grass and tules. Eggs: 8 to 11, buffy white, thinly spotted with brown. 
The Florida gallinule is easily mistaken for a coot ( Fulica ), which 
it resembles in size and general appearance, but like the rails it is a 
bird of the shores and marshes, and although a good swimmer prefers 
to keep mainly out of sight in the grass and tules. 
GENUS FULICA. 
221. Fulica americana GW. American Coot: Mud Hen. * 
Toes lobed or scalloped along edges; bill stout, nearly as long as 
head ; frontal shield narrow, end¬ 
ing in a point on crown. Breeding 
plumage: bill white, with brown 
spot near end, frontal shield 
brown; whole head and neck 
blackish; rest of body plum¬ 
beous except for white under tail coverts, edge of wing, 
and tips of middle wing feathers. Winter plumage: 
belly whitish ; frontal shield smaller than in summer. 
Young : like winter adults, but with white of belly ex¬ 
tending onto throat; bill dull flesh color, frontal shield 
rudimentary. Length: 13-16, wing 7.25-7.60, bill (to 
base of shield) 1.25-1.60. 
Distribution. — Whole of North America from Alaska Fig< 97 • 
and Greenland south to northern South America, West Indies, and Ber¬ 
mudas ; breeding from Texas northward. 
Nest. — Usually placed among tule stems on the water and built of dry 
tule and grass stems. Eggs : 8 to 12, creamy or buffy, finely specked with 
brown. 
Fig. 96. 
The omnipresent coots are among the most social and garrulous of 
our inland water birds. They are good swimmers and often gather 
in large flocks in open water, but their preference is always for the 
grassy shores of shallow lakes, or open ponds surrounded by wild 
rice, tules, or flags. Here they dive in the shallow water, paddle 
along shore, or run over the rafts of floating plant stems in little 
chattering, laughing groups. When forced to fly they make a long 
run on the water and after much kicking and spattering finally get 
launched on the wing. 
Fortunately for them they are of little account as game birds and 
their plumage has no commercial value, so they will probably con¬ 
tinue abundant and tame. 
