Bird That Builds Floating Nests in Water: Horned Coot

Birds show amazing skills in building nests, and their nests are also an interesting subject of research. The horned coot, found in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, is remarkable because it builds floating nests in water.

This bird is about 1.5 to 2 feet long, has a long yellow beak, and a white feather beard. These birds live near lakes and build their nests away from the shore, floating on the water. They collect stones from around and pile them up in the lake as a base. The nest is built on top of this pile, above the water surface. To build the nest, these birds gather tons of stones. Over time, the piled-up stones float, and the nest forms on them. Marsh terns are other birds known for building floating nests shaped like boats.