Limpkin, Green Cay Wetlands, Florida

Howdee all,

Today I want to show you one one of my favorite birds..

See the dead tree in the distance?There is a Limpkin on top…

An unusual bird of southern swamps and marshes, the Limpkin reaches the northern limits of its breeding range in Florida. There, it feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, which it extracts from their shells with its long bill. Its screaming cry is unmistakable and evocative.

 

A  Limpkin can extract a snail from its shell in less than 20 seconds.

Limpkins were once common in Florida, but because of the decline of its primary food source, the Florida Apple Snail and habitat loss… it is listed as a species of special concern.

Florida is the only state in the US where Limpkin breed.

These photos were all taken at Green Cay, where we saw a few Limpkin….

When we first birded in Florida four years ago we searched for Limpkin and felt lucky when we saw them…

Jeff and I went for a walk at John Prince Campground the other morning and saw about 20 Limpkin….

This Limpkin hung out on its tall perch and called for quite a while

until an Anhinga took its place..

They are locally known as the "wailing bird" or "crying bird" due to their loud mournful call

Play the video below and hear the call….

Limpkin Calling

This video below is from John Prince Park in Lake Worth