Photo of a Limpkin bird
 

An unusual bird of southern swamps and marshes, the Limpkin reaches the northern limits of its breeding range in Florida. There, it feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, which it extracts from their shells with its long bill. Its screaming cry is unmistakable and evocative.

I shot these photos at Live Oak park on the observation deck. You can see the shells of apple snails along the waterline.

Attachment 43403

Attachment 43404

Limpkin
 

Here is a better photo of the Limpkin with the snail in its mouth. It was breaking it up when I got there and grabbed it and walked away.

Attachment 43405

Click on photo to enlarge to see better

Beautiful markings on that bird. You must be a birder as well as a photographer to be able to identify that. Or you have a really good book!

Ale...when I am low and sort of down I open one of your beautiful photographs and feel so much better.


Thank you for the beauty AND the information.

Couldn't say it any better than, Gracie, so I'll just say "ditto". Thank you, Ale, for brightening my day with the beauty of what I hope to soon be my new hometown. You keep the dream alive for many of us wannabes with your exquisite photos!

Wow! Those are great pictures and great info for novice birders like me. What I find interesting is that the Limpkins beak is so different from the beak of the snail kite.

Why did you take the snail from the bird? That's so mean! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Gorgeous pics.