Scientific name: Fulica cristata J. F. Gmelin, 1789
Bird group: Rails and Crakes
Field characters. 40 cm. Very similar to Common Coot, but can be distinguished by two red knobs on each side of frontal shield, different feathering pattern near lores, different call, lack of a whitish border on secondaries and blue-grey legs. Juvenile appears much darker than Coot at same age, with only centre of belly white. General behaviour, habitat and flight similar to those of Coot.
Voice. When alarmed, it makes a note which has been described as a loud, near-human "hoo hoo".
Distribution. Decreasing in number. Rare and local in Spain; very rare vagrant elsewhere.
Habitat. Similar to that of Coot, but much less tolerant of human disturbance, hence more dependent on near-by cover.
Food. Various plant material, mainly obtained by surface-feeding and diving; also takes water-snails and insects.