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Platte River Status: An abundant migrant and uncommon nesting species and winter resident. Tout (1947) recorded American coot in Lincoln County during every month except February. Tout stated that suitable nesting habitat for this species occurred along the Platte River and its tributaries within Lincoln County. Rosche (1979) recorded American coot as a permanent resident in the lower North Platte River Valley.

Breeding Range: Locally a fairly common nesting species in the Sandhills, Platte River Valley and Eastern Plain. Nesting birds on the Eastern Plain are restricted to the Rainwater Basin area. Rare or absent elsewhere in the study area.

Breeding Population: The population was estimated at 3,254 breeding pairs in 1979-1980.

Habitat: We found the highest breeding density (30.9 pairs/km²) in prairie wetlands. Faanes (1982) recorded nesting American coots in highest densities on semipermanent wetlands in central North Dakota. Kantrud (1985) found 72% of the American coots on his North Dakota study area occupied semipermanent wetlands. Hardstem bulrush was the prevalent emergent plant species used for nesting cover at 63% of 691 North Dakota nest sites studied by Stewart (1975). Sharpe and Payne (1966) reported that 2 American coot nests at Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Garden County, were constructed in clumps of common reed. A high degree of interspersion between open water and emergent vegetation receives the greatest amount of use by American coots (Smith 1961, Gorenzel et al. 1982). Weller and Fredrickson (1973) found highest nest densities on an Iowa study area occurred in areas supporting a 50:50 ratio of emergent vegetation and open water.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Wetland loss through drainage to accommodate intensified agricultural production has produced a negative impact on this species. Increased vegetation density (through lack of wetland management) causes American coot populations to decline (Weller and Fredrickson 1973).

Nesting Data: We have observed 3 nests or broods of dependent young including 2 broods occurred on a backwater area of the Platte River in Hall County on 12 August 1983. Swanson (1954) mentioned that American coot bred occasionally at Prairie Island along the Platte River in Merrick County. Egg dates in North Dakota range from 29 April to 13 August (Stewart 1975).