Andean coot

The Andean coot (Fulica ardesiaca), also known as the slate-colored coot, is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

The Andean coot is 40 to 43 cm (16 to 17 in) long. It has two color morphs that are present in both subspecies. Both morphs are mostly slaty gray that is blacker on the head and neck. Their secondaries usually have white tips. One morph has a chrome yellow bill that is paler yellow and sometimes green on the tip, a deep chesnut frontal shield, and green legs and feet. The other has a white bill, a white to orange-yellow frontal shield, and slaty legs and feet. Independent of the color morphs, the subspecies differ only in the color of their undertail coverts: The nominate's are white and those of F. a. atrura are almost black.