The high altitude Laguna de la Mica near Antisana Volcano hosts a number of waterfowl species that thrive in its icy waters. The Andean Coot is one of these, a large (16-17 in.) member of the Rail family.
Although the lake is on the Equator, its elevation of 13,000 feet, in the shadow of ice-covered Volcán Antisana (18,875 ft.), is far from the stereotypical hot and steamy environment at latitude 0°!