American Coot Population Analysis
American Coot has edged up: up 15% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the American Coot
The American Coot (Fulica americana) is a North American member of the Rails, Gallinules & Coots (Rallidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the wetland birds.
- Size
- 6–19 in long (15–48 cm) — a marsh-dwelling waterbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Marshes, ponds, lakeshores and other freshwater wetlands.
- Diet
- Aquatic invertebrates, small fish, frogs and plant matter.
- Range
- Recorded on 920 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 39 states, most concentrated in the Great Basin.
- Family
- Rallidae · Wetland birds
Notable American Coot TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
No notable trend signals for American Coot. See the full index history below.
American Coot Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, American Coot is projected to rise about 154% by 2030 — from 0.28 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.71 (95% range 0.09–1.3). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±126.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the American Coot Is Detected
BBS routes recording American Coot, sized by most recent count.
American Coot Population Trend by State
American Coot Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
American Coot Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 15% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.