The Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) is a common but striking waterbird found across Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. Dressed in sooty black with a distinctive white frontal shield above its beak, it cuts a bold figure on lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers. And while it may seem calm at first glance, the coot is famously feisty.

This bird is fiercely territorial during breeding season, chasing off intruders with flared wings, loud splashes, and surprising aggression. Even chicks from earlier broods may be attacked if food grows scarce — a brutal reminder of nature’s edge.

Coots are strong swimmers, using lobed toes (not webbed like a duck’s) to paddle through the water with ease. They dive for aquatic plants, snails, and insects, often disappearing below the surface for long seconds before popping back up like a cork.

Their nests are floating platforms built from reeds and twigs, anchored among vegetation. Both parents share the work of incubation and feeding — but only the strongest chicks survive.

Bold. Combative. Not what it seems.