How do the habitats of finfoots and coots differ?

Finfoots and coots, both members of the Gruiformes order, occupy distinct aquatic environments:

• Finfoots are shy, secluded birds found in tropical regions. They prefer shady, quiet rivers where they spend much of their time half-submerged near overhanging banks. Their physical adaptations allow them to clamber among the fallen trunks and branches of dense forest and scrubland.1
• Coots are ducklike birds found globally in larger inland waters and streams. They are well-adapted to open, plant-choked marshes and ooze, where their lobed feet facilitate both swimming and walking. While they typically inhabit inland waters, some species may resort to river mouths or shallow sea bays during the winter months.2

In summary, while coots are generally associated with open, marshy, or larger inland water bodies, finfoots are specialized for the secluded, shaded environments of tropical rivers and forested banks.21