Common Coot

(Fulica atra)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 1 700-3 000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With patchy distribution in the plains and lowlands of the country. More consistently distributed in the Danubian Plain (especially along the River Danube, including on some of the larger islands, along the valleys of the large rivers, in fishponds, and water bodies), in the Thracian Plain (along the rivers Maritsa, Tundzha and their tributaries or at other wetlands), along the Black Sea coast and in the Sofia Field. Isolated breeding habitats are also found in Ludogorie, along the river valleys of Struma, Arda, Mesta, in Strandzha, in the Western Rhodopes, etc.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds in water fringe vegetation in different in nature and size bogs and marshes, standing fresh waters (overgrown with marshy vegetation in the shallow parts of dams and micro-dams, fishponds, water bodies in gravel and sand pits, former river beds), as well as in coastal lagoons, standing brackish waters, less often in the marsh vegetation on the banks of running waters – mainly larger rivers. An important condition is the presence of open water surfaces. Avoids wetlands that are totally covered by vegetation. After 1990, some artificial water bodies like fishponds and water bodies in gravel and sand pits – have become increasingly important for the species.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed