Eurasian Coot
Eurasian CootEurasian CootEurasian CootEurasian Coot

Eurasian Coot

Fulica atra

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Great Otway National Park
883 Verified sightings at Great Otway National Park From 2019 to 2026
21,213 Verified sightings across all 69 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Eurasian Coot

The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the common coot or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of North Africa. It has a slaty-black body, a glossy black head and a white bill with a white frontal shield. The sexes are similar in appearance.

The Eurasian coot was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under its current binomial name Fulica atra. Linnaeus specified the locality as Europe but this is now restricted to Sweden. The binomial name is from Latin: Fulica means 'coot', and atra means 'black'.

Four subspecies are recognised: F. a. atra Linnaeus, 1758 – Europe and north Africa to Japan, India, southeast Asia, Philippines and Borneo F. a. lugubris Müller, S, 1847 – Java, Bali, northwest New Guinea F. a. novaeguineae Rand, 1940 – central New Guinea

F. a. australis Gould, 1845 – Australia and New Zealand An extinct subspecies F. atra pontica has been described from the Chalcolithic (around 4800–4400 BP) from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The Eurasian coot is 36–38... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Great Otway National Park

South-west Pacific Swamphen

South-west Pacific Swamphen

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Porphyrio melanotus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Dusky Moorhen
LC

Dusky Moorhen

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinula tenebrosa

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Buff-banded Rail

Buff-banded Rail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallirallus philippensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Australian Crake
LC Endemic

Australian Crake

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Porzana fluminea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Lewin's Rail
LC

Lewin's Rail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lewinia pectoralis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Sooty Rail

Sooty Rail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Porzana tabuensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Black-tailed Nativehen

Black-tailed Nativehen

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinula ventralis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Baillon's Crake

Baillon's Crake

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Porzana pusilla

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Brolga
LC

Brolga

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Grus rubicunda

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~70%
2 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~60%
3 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~50%
4 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~40%
5 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~40%
6 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~40%
7 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~30%
8 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~30%
9 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
10 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
11 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
12 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
13 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~20%
14 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
~20%
15 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~20%
16 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
17 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~10%
18 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
19 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
20 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
21 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
22 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
23 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
24 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
25 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
26 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
27 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
<5%
28 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
29 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
<5%
30 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
31 Tongariro National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
32 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
<5%
33 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
<5%
34 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
35 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
36 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
37 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
38 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
<5%
39 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
40 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
41 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
42 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%
43 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
44 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
<5%
45 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
46 Hohe Tauern National Park 🇦🇹 Austria
Insufficient data
47 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
48 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data
49 Flinders Chase 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
50 Ecrins National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
51 Gir National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
52 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
53 Vanoise National Park 🇫🇷 France
Insufficient data
54 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data
55 Jiuzhaigou National Park 🇨🇳 China
Insufficient data
56 Tatra National Park 🇸🇰 Slovakia
Insufficient data
57 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
Insufficient data
58 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
59 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
60 Cuc Phuong National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
Insufficient data
61 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
62 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
63 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
64 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
65 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
66 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data
67 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
68 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
69 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Eurasian Coot in Great Otway National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Eurasian Coot sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 883 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Eurasian Coot in Great Otway National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Eurasian Coot in Great Otway National Park in our monthly data.

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