Nice portrait Roger.
The American Coot is a very interesting bird although it suffers somewhat in that it is so ubiquitous. Not to put too fine a point on it but Coots are not really "ducks".
They are really in the Rail family. They do not have the webbed feet of the duck or goose. They do inhabit the same niche as ducks in lakes and wetlands.
They also have a rather ignominious start is life as a rather bizarre chick.