Species fact sheet by Global Register of Migratory Species - www.groms.de

Fulica americana Gmelin, 1789 Family: Rallidae Order: Gruiformes Back
American coot Amerikanisches Bläßhuhn Foulque d'Amérique Focha americana
CMS NL Redlist 2000 (Criteria) NL CITES NL (Europe: SPEC threat status )
Migration: intercontinental nocturnal; probably broad front

Fulica americana

Mainly migratory, especially in North America E of Rocky Mts. Many apparently migrate to larger N wetlands for post-breeding moult. Winters in Pacific and Atlantic coastal states N to British Columbia and Maryland; most winter in S USA and Mexico. Birds ringes in Alberta winter mainly in California and W Mexico; those from Saskatchewan and Manitoba mainly E Mexico to Louisiana, some reaching Caribbean islands. All populations mix in Gulf states in winter. Birds nesting more to S move furthest S in winter, e.g. 32% of recoveries of those ringed in Iowa found in Cuba. Winters throughout Central America S to Panama and possibly Colombia; small numbers reach larger Hawaiian islands in winter. Migrates at night, singly or in loose flocks, probably on broad front; birds often hit powerlines. Males and non-breeders congregate in late summer and move S ahead of females and juveniles. Autumn passage late Aug to Dec; peaks in Mississippi flyway late Oct; wintering birds present Louisiana and Mexico Oct-Mar, Costa Rica Oct-Apr, and Panama Oct to late Apr. Spring migration occurs late Feb through to mid-May; males and older birds migrate first; birds arrive on N breeding grounds from late Mar. Many cases of birds wandering N of breeding range in summer and autumn, as far as Newfoundland, Labrador, Franklin and S Greenalnd; vagrant to Iceland. Numbers increase in Colombia Oct- Apr, but origins of birds involved not clear.
(del Hoyo J A Elliott; J Sargatal (eds) (1996) - www.hbw.com )

Regions: Caribbean Islands, Mesoamerica, North America, South America
Recommended link: http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/birds/gruiformes/famericana.html
Feedback: mail to Klaus Riede
Explanatory notes
(Last update: 05.08.02 by E.Heuel)

Populations