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. And the bird gains some glamor when it swims through a reflection of Fall foliage.
			Coot chicks -- cute, hideous, or both?