Hawaiian coot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hawaiian coot |
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| Hawaiian coot with yellowish frontal shield | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Fulica
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| Species: |
alai
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The Hawaiian coot (Fulica alai) is a special bird found only in Hawaiʻi. Its Hawaiian name is ʻalae kea. It belongs to the rail family of birds. In Hawaiian, ʻalae means 'mud hen', and kea means 'white'. So, its name means 'white mud hen'.
This bird looks a lot like the American coot. It is about 33 to 40 centimeters (13 to 16 inches) long. It weighs around 700 grams (1.5 pounds). The Hawaiian coot has black feathers and a bright white patch on its forehead. This patch is called a frontal shield.
You can find these birds in places like freshwater lakes and marshes. They also live in coastal salty lagoons and water storage areas. The Hawaiian coot was listed as an endangered species in October 1970. Both the United States government and the state of Hawaii consider it endangered.
The Hawaiian coot is in danger because its habitat is being lost. Also, new animals brought to Hawaii, like the small Asian mongoose, hunt these birds. To help protect them, the Makalawena Marsh on the Big Island is now a National Natural Landmark. This helps save one of their last places to nest.
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Why the Hawaiian Coot is Endangered
The Hawaiian coot was officially listed as an endangered species in October 1970. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. The state of Hawaii also considers it both unique to the islands (endemic) and endangered.
In 2010, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service checked on the Hawaiian coot. They found that the bird was still in danger. The population had not grown enough to be taken off the endangered list. For the bird to be considered safer, there needed to be more than 2,000 birds for five years in a row. Also, their wetland homes needed better protection.
Where the Hawaiian Coot Comes From
The first time someone wrote about a coot in the Hawaiian Islands was in 1825. A naturalist named Andrew Bloxam saw the Hawaiian coot. He was on a ship called HMS Blonde. But he thought it was a common Eurasian coot and did not collect a sample.
Today, scientists believe the Hawaiian coot is either its own species, Fulica alai. Or it might be a subspecies of the American coot, called Fulica americana alai.
How Many Hawaiian Coots Are There?
In the past, the Hawaiian coot was very common on islands like Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Kaua’i. They lived in ponds, streams, and marshes near the coast. However, when the first counts were done in the 1950s and 1960s, fewer than 1,000 birds were found across all the islands.
Since the 1960s, the number of Hawaiian coots has changed a lot each year. It has gone from less than 1,000 birds to over 3,000. It seems like their numbers are slowly going up. Between 1998 and 2003, surveys found about 2,100 birds on average. The numbers ranged from 1,500 to 3,000 birds. More recent counts show about 1,500 birds in winter and around 2,000 in summer.
Images for kids
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Hawaiian coot with white frontal shield
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Hawaiian coot with red frontal shield
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Hawaiian coot with red frontal shield
See also
In Spanish: Focha hawaiana para niños
