Adult © Freddy Olivares
Immature © Ricardo Doumecq Milieu
Adult © David Robichaud
Adult © David Robichaud
+ 2
Adult © Maria Lopez Rico

Horned Coot Fulica cornuta

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Identification

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Very large, but rather local coot; rare except at a few lakes in the high Andes set amid barren and rocky surroundings. Often far out on deep-water lakes, where it looks rather uneventful: black overall with a pale yellowish bill. Seen up close, note the bizarre, erectile black “horn” appendage covering the bill base. Juvenile is dark sooty gray with a whitish throat. Builds remarkable nest mounds of stones topped with weeds that look like the tips of huge underwater volcanoes and take months, if not years, to complete.

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