Scientific Name: Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758
English Name: Coot
Local/Bangla Name: Pati kut (পাতি কুট)
Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Description:
A plump waterbird that swims with a nodding motion of its head. Both sexes appear similar. Its plumage is entirely dark with a slate-black sheen, darkest on the head and neck. The legs are pale yellow, the bill is white, and it has a white frontal shield between its red eyes. In flight, the inner wings display a white trailing edge, and the legs extend beyond the tail. Juveniles are greyish-brown with a whitish face and throat.
Habitat & Distribution in Bangladesh:
Prefers lakes, reservoirs, flooded gravel pits, and large, slow-flowing rivers for breeding, though urban lakes are also suitable. In winter, flocks gather on larger bodies of water, sometimes even on the sea.
Environment:
Freshwater, Terrestrial
Comments:
Native
References:
Siddiqui KU, Islam MA, Kabir SMH, Ahmad M, Ahmed ATA, Rahman AKA, Haque EU, Ahmed ZU, Begum ZNT, Hassan MA, Khondker M, Rahman MM (eds.) (2008) Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol. 26. Birds. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka. 662 pp.
