American coot
Fulica americana

Size: 15.5 inches
Overall Color: dark gray
Occurrence: near water
Diet: seeds, leaves, roots, small aquatic animals
Nest: floating platform
Field Identification: white bill, grayish overall
Season: year-round

Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Chordata (hollow nerve cord)
Subphylum: Vertebrata (backbone)
Class: Aves (Birds)
Order: Gruiformes
Family: 24 Rallidae (rails,coots)
Genus: Fulica
Species: americana