Coot Free-Fight

Coot Free-Fight



During a great part of the year coots can be very social and you can find them living together peacefully in larger flocks.

In the breeding season however, they are very territorial and they are chasing away all other coots, and other waterbirds, out of their territory.

This time I was at the right place/time to shoot some photo’s from a territorial fight between two males. The females were encouraging their mates…….

Coot Free-Fight
2 males defending their territory

EOS 20411
and keep fighting

EOS 20491
Females encouraging their mates

EOS 20521
Trying to kick each other…

EOS 20531
… and to kick back

EOS 20571
Fight is over. Both not wounded

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Rob Belterman

Rob Belterman

Rob Belterman has been working in Rotterdam Zoo since 1978, and is based in the Netherlands. Retired since 2014. His project activity encompasses the genetics (chromosomes) of birds and mammals, sexing European White Storks for re-introduction in the Netherlands, Bearded Vultures in Austria, and Cinereous Vultures in Mallorca. He coordinates two European Endangered Species Programmes for Red-crowned Cranes and Siberian Cranes. Rob is an enthousiastic bird photographer and always takes his camera with him when travelling.

Rob Belterman

Rob Belterman

Rob Belterman has been working in Rotterdam Zoo since 1978, and is based in the Netherlands. His project activity encompasses the genetics (chromosomes) of birds and mammals, sexing European White Storks for re-introduction in the Netherlands, Bearded Vultures in Austria, and Cinereous Vultures in Mallorca. He coordinates two European Endangered Species Programmes for Red-crowned Cranes and Siberian Cranes. Rob is an enthousiastic bird photographer and always takes his camera with him when travelling.

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