American Coots feeding along the edge of the pond in October. Others joined the group, and by early November there were at least 12 coots on the island. Coots eat mostly plant material, and forage in a variety of ways – they dive underwater, upend in shallows, dabble on the surface, and graze on land. Some coots will winter as far north as open water permits. Migrants winter as far south as Patagonia in South America.