Hawaiian Coot
A species of Coots Scientific name : Fulica alai Genus : Coots
Hawaiian Coot, A species of Coots
Botanical name: Fulica alai
Genus: Coots
Content
Description General Info
Description
The Hawaiian coot (Fulica alai), also known as the ʻalae kea in Hawaiian, is a bird in the rail family, Rallidae, that is endemic to Hawaiʻi. In Hawaiian, ʻalae is a noun and means mud hen. Kea or its synonym keo is an adjective for white. It is similar to the American coot at 33–40.6 cm (13.0–16.0 in) in length and weighing around 700 g (1.5 lb). It has black plumage and a prominent white frontal shield. Its natural habitats are freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, coastal saline lagoons, and water storage areas. The bird was federally listed in October 1970 as an endangered species and is considered both endemic and endangered by the state of Hawaii. It is threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators such as the small Asian mongoose. The Makalawena Marsh on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi has been listed as a National Natural Landmark to preserve one of its last nesting areas. 
Size
33-41 cm (13-16 in)
Colors
Black
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
4-22 years
Feeding Habits
Hawaiian Coot are generalist feeders, consuming a variety of seeds, aquatic plant matter, invertebrates, crustaceans, snails, and tadpoles. With a foraging behavior that involves dabbling and upending in water, they have adapted to exploit a diverse range of food resources.
Habitat
Hawaiian Coot's habitat encompasses a range of freshwater and brackish environments. Typically found in wetlands, hawaiian Coot occurs in habitats such as freshwater lakes, marshes, and coastal saline lagoons. It breeds in low elevation areas, favoring natural ponds, flooded agricultural fields, and artificial water bodies including sewage-treatment ponds and reservoirs. Hawaiian Coot has been known to frequent man-made ponds on golf courses and to venture into mountain streams at higher elevations. When disturbed, it may retreat to calm sea waters protected by reefs. Hawaiian Coot's adaptability extends to brackish and salt estuaries, highlighting its tolerance for a variety of aquatic habitats.
Dite type
Omnivorous
General Info
Species Status
VULNERABLE. Restricted-range species: present in Hawai'i EBA.
Scientific Classification
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