Order GRUIFORMES | Family RALLIDAE |
Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 Common Coot Races:
Fulica atra japonica Temminck et Schlegel, 1849
Numerous, in places very common breeding migrant. Inhabits fresh and salty lakes, pounds, reservoirs and rivers with slow current, reed-beds and reed mace thickets. Appears in flocks in mid-March – April in southern, and in April – early May in northern areas. Migration finishes in mid – end May. Pairs formed on breeding place. Breeds in pairs, not far one from other in suitable places. Nest is built by both parents in reed-beds from leaves of reed and other grass, and well sheltered by surrounding vegetation. Clutches of 5-12, usually 7-9 eggs, May – early June. In incubation and care for chicks both parents took part. Juveniles hatch in June – July. Some nests are loss from Marsh Harrier or out of flooding during strong wind, and many pairs are forced to re-nest. After moulting, adults and juveniles joined in big flocks at places with plenty of food. Autumn migration begins in September, and mass migration is going in mid-September – mid-October. With water freezing last birds disappear. But on unfreezing reservoirs some birds stay up to early – mid-November.
Breeds everywhere in plain Kazakhstan, except for waterless districts, and on Markakol’ lake. On migration occurs everywhere. Wintering on south of the Republic, in January 1970 near 300 Coots counted in Syrdaya delta and 100 on Chardra reservoir. On Sorbulak lake near Almaty two birds recorded 15 December 2002. But most winters in India.
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
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