Editor’s Note: The American Coot is part of the CROW CAW (Case A Week) series, which tells the stories of the patients at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island, the dangers they face, and how we can help protect all of our wildlife. Read previous cases here.
This is the striking white beak and black plumage of an American Coot. Coots are often confused with ducks due to their semi-aquatic nature and silhouette, but they are only distant relatives. Genetically, they’re more closely related to the Sandhill Crane! A key difference is the feet — duck feet are webbed, while coots have distinct lobed toes. These scale-like lobes fold in while walking on land and fan out in water to aid swimming.
The American Coot is a year-round Florida resident, only migrating north to breed and nest. They make their nests in reeds or floating in freshwater, which requires constant maintenance by the mother to keep the structure intact.
This particular American Coot (25-1008) found itself tangled in a baseball net and unable to fly. We were concerned that the patient had broken a bone during the struggle, but no fractures were seen on radiographs (x-rays). However, it remained weak and displayed a persistent wing droop, possibly indicating a soft tissue injury.
Thanks to supportive care and pain medication, the coot is now on the mend. It’s recovering in a soft-sided enclosure enriched with branches, foliage, and food for foraging—mimicking its natural environment. Given attentive treatment plus the time and space to heal, we are looking forward to the release of this unique native bird.
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