Small game - birds

White-faced Coot (Fulica atra)

The coot, also called the white-fronted water hen, black coot, coot (Fulica atra) is a bird of the Durdavtsov family. It is also found in Bulgaria, the population is stable, which is why hunting is allowed from October 1 to January 31. the coot's body length is 36-42 cm, weight 0.6-1.2 kg, and wingspan - 70-80 cm. Its plumage is grey-black, matte, with a bluish tinge on the belly. There is a white, hornlike growth on the forehead, the neck is gray-black, and the neck is black. There is no white color on the underarm. There is no sexual dimorphism, but age-related dimorphism is observed. Young individuals are gray or dark brown on the upper part of their body, whitish-gray on the lower part and dark brown on the sides. In them, the white spot is missing, the neck is dark brown, the neck is black. The beak in the adult specimens is milky white, and in the young - dark gray. The legs are greenish-yellow, with broad leaf-like leathery outgrowths around the toes, and the eyes are bright red. The coot is widespread in Europe, Asia, North Africa, Australia and the islands of New Guinea and Tasmania. It is a migratory bird in the northern parts of the range, and a wandering and permanent species in the southern parts. Winters in Western and Southern Europe, North Africa and South Asia. In Bulgaria it occurs throughout the year. During the migration period, flocks of coots can be found near all water bodies in the country. It winters mainly along the coast of the Black Sea, and during the breeding season it prefers marshy areas near the Danube River and the sea. The birds that winter near the shores of the Black Sea arrive from countries further north than us in October and stay until February.