Limpkin

Limpkin
: Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Gruiformes : Aramidae : Aramus : guarauna
Binomial name
Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766)

The Limpkin, Aramus guarauna, is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. It is found in marshes with some trees or scrub in the Caribbean, South America and southern Florida, USA.

The Limpkin is a largish bird (26in long, 40in wingspan), drably plumaged brown with a greyer head and neck. It has long legs and neck, and a long, yellowish bill. It feeds on small aquatic life, principally snails.

This unobtrusive bird nests on the ground laying about six eggs. It has a loud wailing call.

This species is related to the cranes, but is placed in its own family; relationships are shown below:

• ORDER GRUIFORMES
  • Family Aramidae
    • Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
  • Family Psophiidae: trumpeters
  • Family Rallidae: rails and crakes
  • Family Heliornithidae: finfoots and sungrebes
  • Family Rhynochetidae: Kagu
  • Family Eurypigidae: Sunbittern
  • Family Cariamidae: seriemas
  • Family Otidae: bustards
  • Family Gruidae: cranes