It happens often. You’re driving and get distracted. As a result, you miss a turn or an exit and find yourself somewhere other than your destination. This happens to wildlife as well. When this occurs at the Nature Center, we can reap the rewards of seeing an animal not from around here. This winter, many visitors noticed a bird they could not find in the field guides of wildlife belonging in this area. Sightings began to mount, and we were able to confirm that a limpkin (Aramus guarauna) was spending winter in the marsh.
The limpkin is a large, rail-like bird, with dark brown feathers. With the right amount of light, you can see a hint of green iridescence to the feathers. Along with brown feathers, the limpkin also has white spots that begin around the back and work their way up to the lower neck, with the white transitioning to streaks. Limpkins have long toes to walk easily in muddy terrain and long legs to wade in the water looking for snails and freshwater mussels. The bird possesses a long, saber-like bill that is perfect for eating snails and mussels. The bill is slightly curved to the right to allow access into the right-hand curve of a snail’s shell. The tip of the bill is twisted at a right angle to pull the snail from the shell. From the tip of the tail to the head, limpkins measure 26 inches. The wingspan can reach up to 40 inches. This bird tops the scales at a whopping 2.6 pounds. It has been said their name comes from the appearance they are “limping.”
