Giant coot :

NAME (S) LOCAL (S):
Tagua, Tagua giant Ajoya.

DISTRIBUTION IN CHILE:
high range of Tarapaca

HABITAT:
lakes and lagoons of the highlands.

DESCRIPTION:
Length: 62 - 66 cms.
Head and neck black. Rest of body blackish slate. Yellow frontal shield the center white stripe that goes down to the basal third of the upper jaw; rest of the dark red bill and yellow tip. Big red paws with long nails.

Tagua is the biggest giant of coots inhabiting the territory. They live in lakes and lagoons Plateau, at altitudes exceeding even the 4,000 meters, as is the case of Lake Cotacotani (4,800 m.). They feed on plants and build huge nests on platforms, where they lay their eggs during the period of stance, which performs twice a year, during August and then in December.

-Nesting platforms that measure 3 x 2 mts. and are able to withstand even a person, are used year after year, being enlarged all the time with the same aquatic plants that feed, to lay their eggs in a cup arranged in different parts of the large nest each season. The eggs are soft gray with dark red paint and size of 66 mm. x 45 mm. app.