While the story sounds apocryphal, it could be that the Limpkin was so named because of the bird’s unusual gait, which appeared like it was limping. Sadly, this Limpkin seen in wetlands in Lake County, Florida, has a real limp. The victim of some unknown accident in the past, one of this Limpkin’s feet, though long healed, appeared mangled and twisted around, which did not seem to impede the bird from walking. Frequent visitors to this wetland said that the bird had been in this condition for years and seemed to be doing just fine. It’s handicapped foot making for a good field mark to identify this one Limpkin as a resident among all the others that lived in this area.



Taking perseverance lessons from Aramus guarauna.