Limpkin
Aramus guarauna
The Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) is a common limpkin found in 34 countries, weighing about 1.1 kg. The limpkin, also called carrao, courlan, and crying bird, is a large wading bird related to rails and cranes, and the only extant species in the family Aramidae.
About the Limpkin
The limpkin, also called carrao, courlan, and crying bird, is a large wading bird related to rails and cranes, and the only extant species in the family Aramidae. It is found mostly in wetlands in warm parts of the Americas, from Florida to northern Argentina, but has been spotted as far north as Wisconsin and Southern Ontario. It feeds on molluscs, with the diet dominated by apple snails of the genus Pomacea. Its name derives from its seeming limp when it walks.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The limpkin is a somewhat large bird, 64–73 cm (25–29 in) long, with a wingspan of 101–107 cm (40–42 in). Body mass ranges from 900 to 1,300 g (2.0 to 2.9 lb), averaging 1,080 g (2.38 lb). The males are slightly larger than the females in size, but no difference in plumage is seen. Its plumage is drab—dark brown with an olive luster above. The feathers of the head, neck, wing coverts, and much of the back and underparts (except the rear) are marked with white, making the body look streaked and the head and neck light gray. It has long, dark-gray legs and a long neck.
What the Limpkin sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, Chile, Aruba, Guadeloupe.
When to see it
The Limpkin can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Limpkin?
- The limpkin is a somewhat large bird, 64–73 cm (25–29 in) long, with a wingspan of 101–107 cm (40–42 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Limpkin?
- The Limpkin is a large sized bird weighing about 1.1 kg.
- Where can you see a Limpkin?
- The Limpkin occurs in 34 countries, including the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.
- What does a Limpkin sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Limpkin on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- Is the Limpkin endangered?
- The Limpkin is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Limpkin for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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