American
Coot, Fulica americana
The familiar "mudhen" is actually a photographic challenge -- it's hard to retain detail in both the black feathers and the white bill. Sort of like a wedding, where the photographer must capture the white-clad bride and black-clad groom in the same image. The bird gains some glamor when it swims through a reflection of Fall foliage.
Baby coots: Cute? Hideous? All of the above?
