American Coot (Fulica americana)
The American Coot, from the family of Rails and cousins to the Gallinules, is at home in both fresh and salt water. They and the rare Ivoy-billed Woodpecker are the only North American birds with white bills. With their red eyes they are a very striking-looking bird.
The first thing you notice about them on encountering a flock of them is how noisy they are as they dart about. They commonly bob their heads in synchrony with foot strokes when they swim.
The white, chicken-like bill has a smooth, horny projection extending from the bse of the bill onto the forehead. This frontal shield has a dark, red-brown callus at the top that can cover the entire shield when breeding.
These photographs were taken at Lake Harris in Lake County, Florida.