Red-fronted Coot (Fulica rufifrons)

Order: Gruiformes | Family: Rallidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

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Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Chile

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Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Argentina

red-fronted_coot
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Argentina

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Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Chile

Identification & Behavior: ~40 cm (16 in). The Red-fronted Coot has a blackish head and neck with the rest of the body mostly gray. The undertail feathers are distinctively white. The bill is yellow with a bright red bare forehead.  It is similar to Common Gallinule but distinguished by larger size, yellow bill, no white stripe along the sides, and white undertail feathers without a central black streak. Also, see Andean Coot.

Status: The Red-fronted Coot is only known from coastal wetlands in Arequipa where it is rare. Other isolated records have been reported as far north as Lima. It also occurs in Bo and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Gallareta de Frente Roja.

Sub-species: Red-fronted Coot (Fulica rufifrons) Philippi & Landbeck, 1861.

Meaning of Name: Fulica: L. fulica= a Coot. rufifrons: L. rufus= red, rufous; and frons= part of forehead, brow.

See more of the Family Rallidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
red-fronted_cootVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 01/01/2015.