Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Hawaiian coot (Fulica americana alai)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Hawaiian Coot is dark slate gray with a white bill and a large frontal shield (patch on top of head). The frontal shield is usually white but can vary from bluish white to yellow to dark blood red. They have white undertail feathers that are seen when swimming or during their courtship displays. Male and female coots look alike. This endemic bird of Hawai`i is smaller than its mainland relatives, measuring 15 inches in length.

Lead Region:  Pacific Region (Region 1)
Date Listed: Oct 13, 1970

  • States/US Territories in which the Hawaiian coot is known to occur:  Hawaii
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Hawaiian coot is known to occur:  HANALEI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , HULEIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , JAMES CAMPBELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , KAKAHAIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , KEALIA POND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges
  • For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/wesa/coothi.html

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
04/29/2008 73 FR 23264 23266 Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 70 Species in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Islands
12/29/2006 71 FR 78452 78454 Availability of a Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement for Five Species of Birds in Kauai, Maui, HI, and Honolulu Counties, HI
08/24/2005 70 FR 49668 49669 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds, Second Draft of Second Revision: Notice of document availability for review and comment.
08/24/2004 69 FR 52027 52028 Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement With Chevron Hawaii Refinery at James Campbell Industrial Park for Management of the Hawaiian Stilt and Hawaiian Coot, Oahu, HI
07/09/1999 64 FR 37148 37149 Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds, Second Revision

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
08/24/2005 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds, Second Draft of Second Revision View Implementation Progress Draft Revision 2
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/29/2008 73 FR 23264 23266 Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 70 Species in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Islands
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
  • 08/24/2005 70 FR 49668 49669 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds, Second Draft of Second Revision: Notice of document availability for review and comment.
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
  • 07/09/1999 64 FR 37148 37149 Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds, Second Revision
  • Notice Doc. Availability
  • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Hawaiian coot.

    » Conservation Plans

    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 2 of 2 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    Chevron SHA
    Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement Covering Hawaiian Goose, Duck, Moorhen, Coot, and Stilt for Participants of USDA Farm Bill Conservation Programs

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Hawaiian coot.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009