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Manatee County

Audubon Society

Limpkin

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Name

Limpkin

Scientific Name

(Aramus guarauna)

Why they are special:
  • A unique Florida bird, the Limpkin is often mistaken for a heron or ibis but is actually in a family all its own.

  • Best known for its haunting, wailing call, often heard at dawn or dusk, which gives wetlands an almost tropical, wild feel.

  • In Manatee County, Limpkins are a prized sight along rivers, lakes, and freshwater marshes.
Size and color:
  • A large wading bird, about 25–29 inches long with a wingspan of 40–42 inches.

  • Brown overall, heavily streaked with white, giving it a mottled appearance.

  • Long legs, long slightly curved bill (yellow with a darker tip), and a slender neck.
Seasonality in Florida:
  • Year-round resident in Florida, including Manatee County.

  • Most visible near wetlands with abundant apple snails, their primary food source.
Habitat:
  • Prefer freshwater marshes, lakes, slow-moving rivers, and swampy wetlands.

  • In Manatee County, look for them around the Myakka River, freshwater lakes, and marsh edges.
Diet:
  • Specialize in eating apple snails, prying them from their shells with their uniquely adapted bill.

  • Will also take mussels, other freshwater snails, insects, and small amphibians when available.
Behavior:
  • Forage slowly along wetland edges, using their long bill to probe for snails.

  • Territorial during nesting season, with loud calls carrying far across wetlands.

  • Often solitary or in small family groups.
Conservation notes:
  • Populations declined in the past due to wetland drainage and decline of apple snails.

  • Currently stable in Florida but closely tied to the health of freshwater ecosystems and snail populations.
Best time to see:
  • Year-round in Manatee County, especially in freshwater preserves and along the Myakka River.

  • Often detected first by their distinctive, loud wailing call.
Fun Fact:
  • The Limpkin’s bill has a gap near the tip, perfectly designed for removing apple snails from their shells!
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