American Coot chick at Bear River MBRAmerican Coot chick at Bear River MBR – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

A couple of days ago I photographed my first American Coot chicks of the season while on the auto tour route at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. People usually think of American Coot chicks as either cute or ugly, I’m in the cute camp when it comes to these chicks. Maybe not cuddly cute like a Great Horned Owl chick or sweet and cute like a tiny shorebird chick, but cute all the same.

They don’t look like the adult coots much but it doesn’t take them long to resemble the adults. The coot chicks have straggly feathers near their heads and on their chests and their bills are orange colored instead of ivory and their eyes are dark instead of red.

American Coot standing on one leg at Bear River MBRAmerican Coot standing on one leg at Bear River MBR – Nikon D500, f9, 1/500, ISO 250, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I saw quite a few American Coot chicks at Bear River the other day and they usually had adults nearby. Not all of them were withing range of my 500mm lens but the few I was able to photograph delighted me.

I love coots. I think they are not only beautiful but they are great subjects to test my skills with their dark plumage and white bills. Getting the exposure right on these birds is a challenge.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my American Coot photos plus facts and information about this species.