This bird’s name is matched only by its nickname: this species is sometimes called the “Kickboxer,” thanks to its habit of lying on its back and attacking other birds with its legs. The Hawaiian coot, or ‘alae ke‘oke‘o, is the only species of coot living on the Hawaiian islands; these striking water birds have been put at risk thanks to a series of factors, including invasive plant species, oil spills, and non-native predators like dogs.
The birds’ population has risen from just a handful of individuals in the 1970s, when it was listed as endangered, to around 2,000 today.
