Chestnut-brown with white spots, the limpkin has a curved beak much like an ibis. It is one of Florida’s more rare birds, and has been listed on the protected species list.
Its diet consists mostly of the apple snail, although it will also eat freshwater mussels, insects, small frogs, and crustaceans.
Hunting of limpkins for their plumage brought the species to near-extinction in the past century.
However, several decades of protection from hunting helped bring back this unusual bird.
Another unexpected boost to limpkin populations in recent years is the introduction of invasive Chinese apple snails to our waters.
The limpkin is still threatened by the draining and damming of Florida’s wetlands, since it relies on shallow wetlands for its meals.
The limpkin’s cry is bloodcurdling. It sounds like someone is being attacked in the woods.
We have a pair in our stream in our back yard in North Fort Myers, Fl. I have heard them making a noise like someone is knocking at your door. Also heard them screaming in the evening. First time in 7 years that we have seen them.
I have a limpkin sitting on 4 eggs in my backyard.
Saw a couple of them on the Silver River today.
My husband and I have been seeing them while out golfing, once in Titusville, and once in Subtree. I don’t remember seeing them before, so I’m glad they’re numbers are increasing if that’s the case.
We see them way more frequently now and ironically, that seems to be due to the invasive Chinese apple snail, as they eat those as readily as our native apple snails.
I have one behind my place near the canal in Coral Springs. I was wondering what was making all that noise, they are very loud. I hope they find their mate soon, lol.
We have one on our pond in Port Charlotte. He appears to have a bad leg?
There has been one near our home in Titusville for the last few days. My wife and I were curious because of the unusual and loud call were were hearing. I finally got to see it.
There’s one in the lake behind my house. There were two. Now only one. I have photos.
There is a pair of Limpkins around the lake in front of our apt building in Winter Springs . Really noisy in the morning, one calling the other for an hour . Lake Jessop is nearby so I would think there is plenty of food around for them.
As of July 2019 have been spotted and heard in the canals of Cooper City Fl.
Good to hear!
Hi
My daughter just spotted a Limpkin (1/26/2020) in Boca Raton FL. She sent me a picture and we iD’d. I never saw one before in FL! I have been living in SO FL 30 years !
That’s fabulous! We see them rather frequently in Central Florida, but I’m not surprised that they are less common in Southeast Florida.
I wondered what this bird I hear every day around 5:30am and then around 6:30 pm was. It never shuts up unless it’s head is under water. I now have 3 since the first of the month. One night I thought a woman was screaming for help but it was one of these birds apparently it’s mating season. Thankfully the girl is softer in voice. I love my lake I call these odd selections my sea world birds as I’m by there and figured they flew over for a change. I also have a huge flock of white pelicans also hygiene year about two dozen.
Thank YOU Sandra,My Wife and I have been watching (and hearing) a pair doing what looks like courtship out in our back yard on a small canal (one of the St.Johns water district canals that drains into the Sebastian River. We both searched a couple of bird books and couldn’t identify.Thanks to you mystery solved.