1. A waterbird of the rail family, especially the American coot, having dark plumage and a white bill.
Usage: Also called coot or mud coot.; Common in North America.

Examples

• The mudhen dove underwater to find food in the shallow lake.
• A flock of mudhens gathered near the marsh at dawn.
• The mudhen's white bill is easy to spot against its dark feathers.
• Hunters sometimes pursue mudhens in wetland areas.
• The mudhen is well adapted to life in freshwater ponds and marshes.