{"id":48790,"date":"2017-10-05T05:24:46","date_gmt":"2017-10-05T11:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=48790"},"modified":"2025-09-02T18:58:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T23:58:19","slug":"limpkins-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/10\/05\/limpkins-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Limpkins in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"

Limpkins<\/h2>\n

\"LimpkinLimpkin and an Apple Snail – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/320, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

One of my favorite bird sounds while I lived in Florida was the calls of Limpkins in the early morning and although I didn’t spend much time with them because I photographed birds primarily on the coast and they are more inland birds, they made a big impression on me. I loved their plumage patterns, their long curved bills, and their loud and unmistakable screaming call.<\/p>\n

Limpkins are the only member of their taxonomic family and although they might resemble wading birds they are more closely related to cranes.<\/p>\n

Their bill is adapted to eating snails, specifically Apple Snails but they will also eat frogs, mussels, insects, and spiders.<\/p>\n

Florida is about as far north as Limpkins are “typically” found in North America and they can be seen in freshwater marshes, ponds, lakeshores and swamps. But? Limpkins wander.<\/p>\n

They can also be found in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Climate change may affect them adversely.<\/p>\n

This Limpkin had caught a snail at Lake Seminole Park in Pinellas County the day I photographed it in 2009 as it was swimming across the water to get to the shore to eat the snail. That snail looked like a pretty heavy load to carry across the water in the Limpkin’s bill.<\/p>\n

\"CallingCalling Limpkin – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/320, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I photographed this calling Limpkin in 2008 at Roosevelt Wetland which is also in Pinellas County, I was sitting down in the damp grass as it walked past me calling.<\/p>\n

In the 1800’s settlers noted that Limpkins were so tame people could pick them up from their nests.<\/p>\n

This one wasn’t quite that tame but it seemed unafraid as it walked past me, maybe that is because I made myself appear small by sitting down and I also held myself very still.<\/p>\n

I wanted to include this recording of a Limpkin calling<\/span><\/a>. It is a sound I hope I never forget.<\/p>\n

Limpkins are unique. I miss them!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Limpkin photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Florida is about as far north as Limpkins are found in North America and they can be seen in freshwater marshes, ponds, lakeshores and swamps. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":139037,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,25,1882,479,2000,862],"tags":[4004,6156,1045,4935,4072,8832,4109,1799,2431,4977,8833,8834,2381,1283,4236,3996,4095,373],"class_list":["post-48790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-florida","category-lake-seminole-florida","category-limpkins","category-pinellas-county-florida","category-roosevelt-wetlands","tag-adult","tag-apple-snail","tag-aramus-guarauna","tag-call","tag-calling","tag-frogs","tag-grasses","tag-insects","tag-limpkin","tag-limpkins","tag-mussels","tag-snails","tag-spiders","tag-swimming","tag-walking","tag-water","tag-wetlands","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t