American Coot

Always wondered where the term “Old Coot” came from, and a little research does indeed lead to the bird. Coots will bob their heads like hens as they walk and swim, and during the 1700s the phrase came to denote “a harmless, simple person” (or in modern times an affectionate term for elderly men). American Coots (these images) may resemble ducks, but they’re closer relatives of the Sandhill Crane and rails. They use their toes with broad lobes of skin (as opposed to webbed feet) to help kick through the water (source: All About Birds).