American coots have a black body and white bills. Their chicks, however, sport a red-and-orange head and their necks are encircled in bright yellow-orange plumes.
Coots lay more eggs than they can raise. As a result about half of the chicks die within the first one week. After that, the parents tend to pick their favourite chicks based on their colourful plumage. The younger ones are generally the most colourful ones.
Coots also tend to lay some of their eggs in the nests of other coots. However as the intrusive chicks tend to be less colourful, they are less likely to be picked as favourites. Hence their chance of survival is very bleak.
This is one of the rare instances in nature where vivid colours are a sign of weakness and not strength.
A tryst with nature. #babycoot
Seems like such a waste of effort to lay more eggs than can be raised and then have so many die out!
ReplyDeleteThey have a complex life indeed...
DeleteInteresting to read about the nature's survival tricks and how you highlight them in your post.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you liked it. :) Thanks!
DeleteVivid colors as sign of weakness and not strength.. interesting way to put out the information with your own words.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Manali!
DeleteWonder how difficult or rather cruel it might be for parents to select which one to choose and which ones to be left behind to perish.
ReplyDeleteLovely pics!!
Very true!! Thank you for the appreciation.
DeleteWish we could pick our favourite ones too. Lovely information
ReplyDeleteDeepika Sharma
LOL!! Glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteThis was an interesting read. Those colourful baby coots look so cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the appreciation!
DeleteNature has its own ways of surprising & shocking us! Nice observation. Thanks for penning this down.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it! :)
DeleteCool, never knew such things about nature. Great post. Choosing by the colour that too lightest chosen. 😎
ReplyDeleteThank you for the appreciation!
DeleteDamn! It must be so difficult to pick a favorite :(
ReplyDeleteVery true. Thank you!
DeleteIt is sad that many of the chicks don't survive. They have a very harsh life indeed!
ReplyDelete