Vocal expressions of the coots

Abstract

The present paper is a study of the different vocal expressions of the coots (Fulicinae) and of their behaviour according to the voices. Of the three species that inhabit this country, two are treated in this paper: the Red-gartered Coot (Fulica armillata) and the Red-fronted Coot (Fulica rufifrons). The first one, especially, is studied in greater detail. The complete difference between the voices of these two species of coots is proved, together with the differences between the voices of male and female. This is very important because it helps to recognize the sexes exactly during fieldwork, on account of the known non-existence of exterior differences between males and females. In the case of the Red-gartered Coot, this difference has been proved beyond doubt, but more investigations are needed concerning the other species. This is the only known reliable method of distinguishing the sexes in fieldwork, because although the males are in general bigger than the females, the difference is sometimes so minimized that it’s impossible to appreciate by direct vision. The alarm notes are the most important in the sex differentiation because they can be provoked any time they are needed during the field studies.