An American Coot On Patrol

Patrolling American Coot – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Birds communicate by using vocal and nonvocal sounds which includes singing, calls, croaks, grunts, warbles, trills, drums, pops, whinnies, gulps, rattles, honks, thumps, whistles and howls. Birds also communicate by using behaviors and visual displays. During the breeding season some male birds will dance and strut to attract a potential mate’s attention while others will bring food or nesting materials as part of their courtship behaviors.

In the day to day life of birds nonvocal behaviors can let other birds know if they have moved into another bird’s territory or have gotten too close to their mate or source of food.

American Coots are a bird species that I observe often and that show many different kinds of communicative postures and behaviors. Because the coots exhibit those behaviors and postures I can often anticipate what they might do next.  When I notice an American Coot exhibiting patrolling behavior I will often aim my lens at them because there could possibly be a chase or fight within seconds.

I photographed this American Coot last week at a local pond and when I saw that it was “on patrol” I focused on it because its posture indicated it might have a fight with another nearby coot. Sometimes those fights do happen but in this instance the other coot saw the posture of this bird and and hurriedly moved away.

By watching and paying attention to the nonvocal communications and behaviors of American Coots I have taken quite a few action packed photos of this species that I might have missed had I not known what they were “saying.”

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my American Coot photos plus facts and information about this species.