This coot's not being crazy.

Although this coot is not being crazy others were, I think spring has sprung in Cootville and there was lots of loud squawking and chasing going on. One bird in particular was chasing all comers, even the ducks were being given the message to move along from a particular bit of bank.

They were first found breeding in NZ in 1958, and by 2005 there was a population of around 2000 spread through both main islands on lakes.

NZ did have 2 endemic coots, but sadly these are extinct.

They give rise to the sayings "crazy as a coot" because of their unusual mating behaviour, and "bald as a coot" because of the white facial shield.

They have wonderful feet, not webbed like other water birds, but each toe has skin flaps on each side which are very useful when swimming and make it easier to grip with than fully webbed feet are.