Giant coot
{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Giant coot
| image = Riesenblaesshuhn fulica gigantea Chile crop.jpg
| image_caption = In Chile
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Fulica
| species = gigantea
| authority = Eydoux & Souleyet, 1841
| synonyms =
| range_map = Fulica gigantea map.svg
}}
The giant coot (Fulica gigantea) is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/flufftails/ |title=Finfoots, flufftails, rails, trumpeters, cranes, Limpkin |website=IOC World Bird List |version =v 12.2 |editor-last1=Gill |editor-first1= F. |editor-last2=Donsker|editor-first2=D.|editor-last3=Rasmussen |editor-first3=P. |date=August 2022 |access-date=August 9, 2022 }}HBW and BirdLife International (2021) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 6. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v6_Dec21.zip retrieved August 7, 2022Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 24 July 2022. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved July 24, 2022
Taxonomy and systematics
The giant coot is monotypic.
Description
The giant coot is the second largest extant member of family Rallidae, after the takahē of New Zealand.Taylor, P. B. (1996). Giant Coot (Fulica gigantea). pp. 209 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. (1996). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 3. Hoatzins to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{ISBN|84-87334-20-2}} Adults are {{convert|48|to|59|cm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. They weigh about {{convert|2000|to|2500|g|lb|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} and are too heavy to fly, though immature birds are smaller and readily fly. The sexes are alike. Adults have a bulky body and a disproportionately small head. Their plumage is deep slaty gray that is blacker on the head and neck. Their undertail coverts have some white streaking. Their bill is deep red with some yellow at the base of the maxilla, their frontal shield is yellow, and unique among coots their legs and feet are deep red. Immature birds have dark gray underparts and a paler bill and legs than adults. Juveniles are dark dull gray with some white on the face and dusky legs.Taylor, B. (2020). Giant Coot (Fulica gigantea), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.giacoo1.01 retrieved November 24, 2022
Distribution and habitat
The giant coot is found from southern Peru through western Bolivia into northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. It is a bird of the Altiplano, a generally barren high elevation landscape. There it inhabits ponds and lakes, especially those with weedy shallows. It mainly occurs between {{convert|3600|and|5000|m|ft|abbr=on}} but is regular as high as {{convert|6540|m|ft|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} and occasionally wanders as far as the Pacific coast.
Behavior
=Movement=
=Feeding=
The giant coot feeds mostly on aquatic vegetation, especially plants of genera Myriophyllum, Potamogeton, Zannichellia, and Ruppia. It also eats algae but shuns Chara. It feeds mostly at the water surface but occasionally dabbles like a duck or dives; it also grazes on shore.
=Breeding=
The giant coot breeds at any season, but its peak egg-laying period is the local winter of June and July. The species is monogamous and very territorial. It makes a huge nest of plant material dredged and piled up in water about {{convert|1|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} deep. Newish nests float but as nesting progresses and both members of the pair add material it usually ends up resting on the bottom. The clutch size is three to seven eggs and both parents incubate them. Young feed on fresh vegetation added to the nest and also on plants and small animal prey such as amphipods and tadpoles brought by the parents.
{{birdsong|url=https://xeno-canto.org/species/Fulica-gigantea |species=giant coot}}
=Vocalization=
Status
The IUCN has assessed the giant coot as being of Least Concern. It has a large range and its estimated population of up to 67,000 mature individuals is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. Though it is generally scarce in much of its range, some areas have large populations, and the populations in Chile and Peru have increased due to controls on firearms.
Gallery
File:Fulica gigantea - Giant Coot (Young).jpg|Young
File:Fulica gigantea-Giant Coot (Adult and young).jpg|Adult and young feeding
File:Giant Coot (408046403) (cropped).jpg|Giant coot with several young
File:Fulica gigantea (8396928374).jpg|Several adult Giant Coots resting on land at Chungara Park, northernmost Chile.