Distribution and Habitat
American Coots are found near water—reed-ringed lakes and ponds, open marshes, and sluggish rivers. They prefer freshwater environments, but may temporarily live in saltwater environments during the winter months.
The American Coot's breeding habitat extends from marshes in southern Quebec to the Pacific coast of North America and as far south as northern South America. Birds from temperate North America east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to the southern United States and southern British Columbia. It is often a year-round resident where water remains open in winter. It is notable that in Ohio, birds apparently move to their breeding range about half a month earlier and leave for winter quarters later than they did 100 years ago. The number of birds that stay year-round near the northern limit of the species' range seems to be increasing.
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