Limpkin

Aramus guarauna

Also known as:Carrao, Courlan, Crying Bird

Explore this bird

Identification

66 cm (26") Common in Florida. Swamps, marshes.

This mostly brown bird has a white streaked and spotted back and neck.

Named for its limping walk.

Nearly driven to extinction by hunting.

Song: a piercing "Krroww" given mostly at night and on cloudy days.

Details in the field

1 photo

Credit: Ray Barlow

Watch and learn

2 videos

Mother Limpkin Feeding Her Young (Aramus guarauna)

Credit: Mark Vance

Limpkin

Credit: Stoil Ivanov

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 10 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Has a central spot · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Chicken-like marsh bird · Long-legged wader
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:349-limpkin:1:1 Source: 349 Limpkin, row 1

Rule 2 10 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Has a central spot · Dark band or bands running across the breast or neck · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Very long · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Chicken-like marsh bird · Long-legged wader
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States

result:349-limpkin:2:1 Source: 349 Limpkin, row 2