Coot  (Fulica atra)

Widespread and common throughout Britain, but absent from hilly areas and most parts of northern and western Scotland (6). Elsewhere, it is found in Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, through Eurasia, reaching as far east as the Pacific coast of China and Japan. It is also found in Australasia, south-east Asia, and India (8).

Found in most shallow, still or slow-moving freshwater habitats including ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, gravel pits and reservoirs (6).