Eurasian Coot
Fulica atra

These birds can be found over much Europe and Asia through into Australasia and are a commopn feature of ponds and lakes. They build large nests of pond weeds which keep the eggs warm as the weed decays. Several other coot species occur in Africa and the Americas. The coots in Australia and the surrounding region are slightly smaller (35-38 cm) than in Europe and lead some to believe they are perhaps a distinct species.
 

1: Perth, WA, 02/12/2011.