Red-knobbed Coot

Ad: Head, neck and tail black, remainder of upper parts dark slaty grey. Underparts mostly dark grey; lower flanks to undertail coverts black. Flight feathers dark grey-brown, outer webs slaty. Primaries black towards tips, sometimes a few white-tipped feathers among marginal coverts at carpal joint³⁶. Bill and frontal shield white, occasionally with bluish tinge; 2 red knobs on top of shield, large when br, otherwise inconspicuous. Eyes red. Legs and feet greenish.

Juv: Dark brown above, sides of head, neck and flanks dark olive-brown, mottled off white. Chin and throat whitish, remainder of underparts pale ash grey, palest in centre of belly. Bill dull grey. Eyes grey-brown to dark brown. Legs and feet dark grey.

Confusing species: None. [Partially leucistic ads recorded Zimbabwe⁴⁷, Mpumalanga¹⁶ and E Cape³⁸.]

Author:WRJ Dean