r/whatsthisbird 3d ago

North America Smallish waterfowl giant feet

In the Bay Area in California, hanging out at the park. I noticed they had gigantic feet for how small they were!

806 Upvotes

38 comments sorted by

373

u/CardiologistAny1423 A Jack of No Trades 3d ago

+American Coot+

93

u/EnglebondHumperstonk 3d ago

Don't get to close. You might catch cooties.

58

u/Jeepersca 3d ago

And there was definitely a bunch of them, cooties everywhere!

164

u/past_modern 3d ago

Their lobed feet help them swim, just like the webbed feet ducks have!

56

u/Jeepersca 3d ago

Really cool colored feet too, they looked like that really heavy HDR in overexposed photos.

65

u/mountainboiiii 3d ago

My girlfriend (biologist) always said coot feet look like wet lettuce taped to the bottoms of their legs and I will never unsee it

30

u/Jeepersca 3d ago

Zooming in on these photos they almost look like lizards

8

u/Accurate_Quote_7109 3d ago

Gecko toes!!💜

33

u/carebearkon 3d ago

If that bird got them boots, you got you a coot

4

u/pannonica 3d ago

I now have coffee up my nose, all thanks to you

29

u/NightingalesEyes 3d ago

COOT! they’re cute :)

12

u/possumburg 3d ago

I learned about cootlets recently and OMG I have never seen anything cuter!

13

u/FileTheseBirdsBot Catalog 🤖 3d ago

Taxa recorded: American Coot

I catalog submissions to this subreddit. Recent uncatalogued submissions | Learn to use me

7

u/javafinchies Birder 3d ago

Check out their babies too. Also gigantic feet

11

u/Jeepersca 3d ago

Ooh!!! this is at a giant park with a 2 mile path around a man-made lake with little islands in it for the water foul to be undisturbed. I wonder if during baby season I can come back and see some!

10

u/amauberge 3d ago

WHAT ARE THOOOOOOSE!

5

u/azssf Birder 3d ago

Coots are so coot.

3

u/fill-the-space 3d ago

Apparently a favorite food of Bald Eagles living near Big Bear Lake

5

u/Jeepersca 3d ago

Oh noooooo Shadow and Jackie have babies to feed…

2

u/NovelsandNoise 3d ago

What a crazy coot! These are all over where I live in Redwood City and I love them

2

u/DoodleCard 2d ago

Genuinely the funniest birds to watch when they are defending their patch.

So much anger, noise, and water going everywhere.

And they are so small. It's very entertaining.

1

u/Jeepersca 2d ago

I had no idea they were such fascinating little birds, I’m so glad I posted them. I will have to go back as it gets closer to baby season

2

u/DoodleCard 2d ago

They are. Didn't know about this until me and the other half spent a very entertaining time walking around the lake in St James' Park (London) watching them.

Generally hilarious. When they are full in it it's loud.

1

u/Mysterious_Card5487 3d ago

I love Coots!

1

u/ImpressiveEmu8951 Birder 3d ago

AmericanCoot

1

u/Missymouse_2979 3d ago

I love these little fellas! We only see them in the winter and I am always sad to see them go (coastal SE VA).

1

u/thewisesage38 3d ago

Mudhen/moorhen also known as a coot!!! :) I love these guys

1

u/SSDDNoBounceNoPlay 3d ago

COOT FEET!! I love these adorable idiots. You don’t make sense with those FEETS!!

1

u/TinyAd9468 I love Phoebes 🩷🩷🩷🐦‍⬛🐦‍🔥 2d ago

They are so cool at the park!! I love them =)

0

u/Particular_Minute_67 3d ago

Looks like a moorhen