The Eurasian Coot, or Common Coot, is a familiar sight on ponds and lakes.expandmore These black birds have a bright white bill and an even more striking white shield on their forehead.expandmore It's almost like they forgot their hat! Coots aren't picky eaters.exclamation They'll gobble up plants, insects, anything they find floating on the water, and they can even dive for a bite to eat. They're common across Europe, Asia, Africa, and have even spread to Australia and New Zealand.