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Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.
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Description
The coot, Britain's largest rail species (5), is a plump water bird; it has a greyish body, a black head, and a white bill, above which there is a prominent white 'frontal shield' (2). The saying 'as bald as a coot' refers to this frontal plate, as do a number of local names for the species, including 'bald coot' and 'white-faced diver' (6). Juveniles have whitish areas on the sides of the head, breast and fore neck; the rest of the body is brownish-grey. The young are covered in black down and have red and blue markings on the head (2). Coots produce a variety of vocalisations, including a loud 'kowk', and a sharp 'pitts' (2).