While I was at my local pond three days ago, I took my best-to-date images of fighting American Coots. I had a blast and laughed a lot while I took them.
Two American Coots fighting on an urban pond
I’ve taken other photos of fighting American Coots before, but these were particularly humorous, action-packed, and part of a long series of images. The splashing water, aggressive postures, and sharpness of the images made them appealing to me. The light was terrific, the water reflected the blue sky overhead, and the coots were showing off. However, I did have some difficulty in picking my favorites, so I decided to create a gallery featuring the images I liked the most.
Please click the first image in the gallery below to view them larger and you can scroll through them from there. The fighting American Coot images are in the gallery in the order they were taken.
The first photo in the gallery probably made me laugh the longest because the coot looked like it had taken a few martial arts classes. I also laughed when I saw the last photo in the gallery because a coot that was watching the fight took a wing slap to the face for simply being too close.
American Coot battle winding down
It is always fun to photograph American Coots fighting.
My father boxed in Golden Gloves in the Army. I wonder what he would think about these fighting coot images had he lived long enough to see me become a bird photographer.
Later in the morning I took more fighting coot photos but that fight was too close and I clipped a lot of wing tips, heads, and feet in that series.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my American Coot photos plus facts and information about this species.
*All of the photos were taken using my Nikon D500 with a Nikkor 500mm VR lens and a 1.4x teleconverter attached and mounted on my tripod. My ISO was 640, the aperture was set at 7.1, the exposure compensation and shutter speed varied.
WHOA! Those boy’s are putting a new emphasis on what combat sports involves! What a terrific series of action shots. Thanks Mia.
Wonderful action work, Mia!
That is really fast action! Congratulations on catching such sharp shots.
I’m imagining the “wing-slappee” saying — in his best Dustin Hoffman voice — “Hey! I’m floatin’ here!” Leave it to a bunch of ol’ coots to cause a ruckus! 😉 (Love seeing their weird, lobed toes, though.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c412hqucHKw
Enjoyed the of your photo series of the coots. Coots are my number one favourite bird. As another commentor said it looks like a bird equivalent of a barroom brawl.
Vi
Granny Pat is right. A barroom brawl indeed – and about the only type I would be happy to watch. I see what you mean about the martial art classes too.
Lots of fun indeed! Looks like what started as a one-on-one ended in the equivalent of a barroom brawl. Love the wing slap to the face too. A great day at the pond.
Those are so full of motion and drama. What amazing skills you have.
Lovely series!—Jeri