limpkin

limpkin
/limp"kin/, n.
a large, loud-voiced, wading bird, Aramus guarauna, intermediate in size and character between the cranes and the rails, of the warmer regions of America.
[1870-75, Amer.; LIMP1 + -KIN; so called because of its jerky walk]

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bird
also called  Courlan, or Crying Bird 
 (species Aramus guarauna), large swamp bird of the American tropics, sole member of the family Aramidae (order Gruiformes). The bird is about 70 cm (28 inches) long and is coloured brown with white spots. The limpkin's most distinctive characteristics are its loud, prolonged, wailing cry and its peculiar halting gait. The species ranges the lowlands from the southeastern United States, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola south to central Argentina.

      The limpkin is found along borders of wooded streams, bayous, and sloughs, or in open marshes and sometimes in uplands, where it runs through brush with long strides or perches on small trees. The limpkin flies like a crane, with short concave wings slowly flapping, neck extended, and legs dangling. It feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic insects, frogs, and worms. In the Florida Everglades it feeds chiefly on large, greenish, freshwater snails (Ampullaria). These, carried to its nest or favourite feeding perch and held firmly in one foot, are struck several powerful blows with the bill, which is then forced into the spiral opening of the shell to pull out the snail. The limpkin's bulky nest of leaves, twigs, and Spanish moss is found among grasses or shrubs, or in a low tree over or near water. Its eggs, four to six, rarely eight, are buff, splashed with brown and drab.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Limpkin — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) …   Wikipedia

  • Limpkin — Limp kin (l[i^]mp k[i^]n), n. (Zo[ o]l.) Either one of two species of wading birds of the genus {Aramus}, intermediate between the cranes and rails. The limpkins are remarkable for the great length of the toes. One species ({Aramus giganteus})… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • limpkin — ☆ limpkin [limp′kin ] n. [ LIMP1 + KIN: from its walk] a gruiform bird (Aramus guarauna) of a family (Aramidae) with only one species, found in Florida, Central America, the West Indies, and South America …   English World dictionary

  • Limpkin — This unusual surname is a Northern English variant form of the medieval Lambkin , itself of Anglo Saxon pre 7th Century origins. The earliest name form was Lambert , which translates as bright lands , a popular personal name of the pre 1066… …   Surnames reference

  • limpkin — araminiai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Aramidae angl. limpkin vok. Eigentliche Rallenkraniche rus. арамовые; пастушковые журавли pranc. aramidés ryšiai: platesnis terminas – gerviniai paukščiai siauresnis terminas –… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • limpkin — aramai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Aramus angl. limpkin vok. Rallenkranich, m rus. арама, f; пастушковый журавль, m pranc. courlan courliri, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – araminiai siauresnis terminas – aramas …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • limpkin — aramas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Aramus guarauna angl. limpkin vok. Rallenkranich, m rus. арама, f; пастушковый журавль, m pranc. courlan brun, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – aramai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • limpkin — noun Etymology: perhaps from 1limp Date: 1871 a large brown wading bird (Aramus guarauna) of southern Georgia, Florida, and Central and South America that resembles a bittern but has a longer slightly curved bill, longer neck and legs, and white… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • limpkin — noun A large bird, Aramus guarauna, found in marshes in the Caribbean, Central America and southern Florida. Syn: carrao, courlan, crying bird …   Wiktionary

  • limpkin — Caribbean crane like bird Unusual Animals …   Phrontistery dictionary

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