From Opus

Fulica rufifrons

Photo by Fritz73
Location: Location: Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Female with chick. Photo by Gary Clark
Location: Lima, Peru.

[edit] Identification

Within range, this is one of the smallest coots. Yellow bill, frontal shield is a deep red, white undertail coverts. Head shape is typical with peaked crown.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Distribution

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

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Lakes and marshes, mostly in lowland.

[edit] Behaviour

Tends to hide in vegetation more than other coots.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3

[edit] External Links