A coot of high Andean lakes and ponds. Bill and frontal-shield colors vary by region, and birds feed on open water, often in flocks.
The northwestern Argentine subspecies, F. a. peruviana, has a red frontal shield, a yellowish-white bill, and green legs.
In Bolivia it occurs on highland lakes and ponds, feeds on open water, and often gathers in flocks. It builds floating nests from aquatic plants.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.