bald as a coot

[gingerflaps]

wot is a coot?

[Quizmonster]

A coot is a water-bird which actually has a bald - ie featherless - patch on its forehead.

[Sequin]

It isn't featherless, but has a patch of white feathers on its head - very similar to a moorhen which has a red patch on its head

[Quizmonster]

If you click here the link will take you to a dictionary website about the coot. Once there, scroll down to the section that opens: "Bald coot". Reading on you will see the words: "the bare patch on the front of the head."

The Oxford English Dictionary has this to say about the bird: "having the base of the bill extended so as to form a broad white plate on the forehead (whence the epithet bald)."

So...a bare patch or a plate...it certainly seems to be featherless.

[Xollob]

Quizmonster - nice link. Many thanks.

[Cetti]

There are no white feathers on the 'bare' patch  nor is is really bald in the true meaning of the word. This area of the bird is more generally known as the 'shield'.

The RSPB site once more to the rescue where you can hear the sound the Coot makes as well as a short video.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/c/coot/index.asp