A small aquatic bird (family Rallidae) that is black with prominent markings on the forehead, often a white or red, featherless shield, hence the expression ‘bald as a coot’, a coloured bill, and red eyes. They have strong legs and run well, and they are often seen swimming in open water. Some species migrate. Coots are omnivorous. There are 11 species in the genus Fulica; the common Eurasian coot is F. atra. They occur throughout South, Central, and North America and Eurasia.