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Description A dark gray body with a white beak the Hawaiian Coot grows to 15" in length. A large bulbous frontal shield (patch on top of head) is usually white but can vary in color from bluish white to yellow to dark maroon red. They have large greenish gray colored lobed feet (rather than webbed) to walk in the mud. They have white undertail feathers that can be seen when swimming and also during courtship displays. Both the male and the female look alike. Lifecycle Breeding season occurs during the months of April thru September. Floating nests are built on aquatic vegetation and sometimes anchored to emergent vegetation. The female lays 4-10 cream colored eggs with brown speckles and is very protective of the nest. The female incubates the the eggs for 23 to 27 days. When the chicks hatch they are soon able to run and swim and keep in contact with parents by frequent calling.Habitat Favoring thickly vegetated marshlands adjacent to deep, open freshwwater in lowlands the Hawaiian Coot is capable of adapting to modified wetland habitat that includes reservoirs,drainage ditches to ponds on the golf course. The primary cause of decline of the native waterbird has been loss of wetland habitat. Diet Hawaiian Coots are omnivorous and feed on aquatic plants, snails, insects, crustaceans, tadpoles and small fish by diving beneath the water. It may also steal its food from other aquatic birds. Behavior The Hawaiian Coot rarely flies but is able to sustain flight close to the water and flown distances during drought to seek out wetland habitat. It also jerks its head back and forth when swimming. During a battle they swim to the opposite sides of the pond or marsh and start swimming as fast as they can towards one another. When the get close enough they begin to claw at each other.
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