Three stages of American Coots in Regina Saskatchewan

American Coots feature stunning contrasts as adults, with black heads, red eyes, and white bills. As babies, they are amazing — picture this: bald heads, bright orange-yellow feathers and red bills (or visit this page, which shows an American Coot with a baby in a Saskatchewan slough). And, as juveniles they are again different, with feathers of varying shades of gray.

Coots breed at a local lake, in Lakeridge Park near where I live in Regina, Saskatchewan, and when I dropped by with a group from Nature Regina to see what birds were there, three stages of American Coots swam by: An adult, a young juvenile, and a slightly older juvenile Coot.

Adult American Coot - a study in contrast, red, white, gray and black. © SB

 A Juvenile American Coot, whose head is starting to darken. © SB

A younger, smaller, paler, Juvenile American Coot.  © SB 

What are these? American Coots -  Foulque d'Amérique)

Location: Lakeridge Park, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo date: September 10, 2016.

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