Eurasian Coot

Posted by Fotoptikon (Warsaw, Poland) on 4 June 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

The Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra, also known as Coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. The Australian subspecies is known as the Australian Coot. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult black plumage develops when about 3-4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old. Youngsters are so funny! I will post some images of them later...

Nikon D80
1/500 second
F/5.6
ISO 280
450 mm (35mm equiv.)

birds
water