There are other Coot species in the tropics with yellow on their bills but I can't remember specifically which ones right now, and I am too busy to look until this evening.  Not sure if American Coots are known to show that much yellow on their bills?  Let's make sure it is not something more special than an odd American Coot.

Jay Keller,
Arlington, VA


-----Original Message-----
>From: Philip Brody <>
>Sent: May 11, 2007 11:46 AM
>To: 
>Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Color marked? American Coot (Mont Co)
>
>We saw a coot with a yellow bill very close up in the impoundment directly in 
>front of parking, about 3 weeks ago; the coloring appeared natural. We 
>wondered about that at the time. It closely accompanied by what appeared to 
>be a female mallard and quite separated from the major coot group in the large 
>impoundment. I also wondered about that. I checked Sibley at the time which 
>shows no variations of that sort.
>
>Phil Brody