Some people think that Coots are ducks, but in fact they belong to the Rail family - they don't have webbed feet. These babies are so "ugly" that they are cute! Don't you agree, lol? Absolutely love their bright orange head feathers : ) They can swim amazingly fast, darting off in every direction, which makes them a little difficult to photograph. Photographed on June 21st at a wetland in south west Calgary.

A few days ago, when I was watching the Coots, I noticed an adult grab hold of a baby several times and viciously shake it. I wonder if that particular youngster had mistaken this adult as its own mother or father? Has anyone else witnessed such behaviour? Poor little thing. A friend also had seen this happening on a different day.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Coot

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_coot/id