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RED-KNOBBED COOT
Fulica cristata
Bleshoender (Afrikaans)
HABITAT
Found throughout KwaZulu-Natal on almost any inland body of water, especially with floating
plants such as Potamogeton. Gregarious when not breeding and can form large flocks.
TYPE
A water bird about the size of a chicken. It is all black with a white bill and frontal
shield which is topped with two dark red knobs. The eyes are red and the legs and feet are dark
olive green.
FOOD
It feeds mainly on water plants and grass which it forages for from the surface or by
diving. It also grazes along the shoreline.
BREEDING
Redknobbed Coots nest throughout the year with peaks in spring and the second half of
summer. They build a nest out of a large clump of water plants with a bowl shaped hollow on top.
This is anchored to vegetation floating in deep or shallow water. The eggs can number up to eleven
in a clutch and are pinkto buff with small round purple brown spots.
STATUS
An abundant resident which is highly nomadic.
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