Gary Helm
"Crying Bird"
The limpkin, also called carrao, courlan, and crying bird, is a bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to cranes.
The limpkin is a long-legged species of waterbird that has dark brown feathers with streaks of white on the head and neck and absent on the rest of the body. Limpkins can grow up to 28 inches (71.1 centimeters) long, with a 42 inch (106.7 centimeters) wingspan, and weigh up to 46 ounces (1,304 grams). White blotches and triangular marks can be found on the neck and upper body. The key physical feature of the limpkin is their down-curved bill, which is used to feed on their primary prey, apple snails. Limpkins are also known for their resounding calls, which are characterized as a high pitched “Kree-ow, Kra-ow” sound.
Limpkins feed primarily on apple snails, but they will also eat insects, worms, and mussels.Limpkins will walk in shallow waters searching for apple snails and utilize their down-curved bills to get the snail out of its shell.
I founed this one in Lake Kissimmee at Joe Overstreet Landing. Osceola County, Florida.
"Crying Bird"
The limpkin, also called carrao, courlan, and crying bird, is a bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to cranes.
The limpkin is a long-legged species of waterbird that has dark brown feathers with streaks of white on the head and neck and absent on the rest of the body. Limpkins can grow up to 28 inches (71.1 centimeters) long, with a 42 inch (106.7 centimeters) wingspan, and weigh up to 46 ounces (1,304 grams). White blotches and triangular marks can be found on the neck and upper body. The key physical feature of the limpkin is their down-curved bill, which is used to feed on their primary prey, apple snails. Limpkins are also known for their resounding calls, which are characterized as a high pitched “Kree-ow, Kra-ow” sound.
Limpkins feed primarily on apple snails, but they will also eat insects, worms, and mussels.Limpkins will walk in shallow waters searching for apple snails and utilize their down-curved bills to get the snail out of its shell.
I founed this one in Lake Kissimmee at Joe Overstreet Landing. Osceola County, Florida.