Along Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coastline, birds include water foul such as Limpkins that favor fresh-water wetlands as their habitat.

Limpkins are rare and as of Feb. 23, 2024 when I did the research for this story, they are no longer considered listed as a Florida bird by the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

I photographed this one while hiking in Sawgrass Lake Park, located in Pinellas County not far from my home in St. Petersburg in 2019.

While I walked along a pond embankment that was far away from the boardwalk path favored by most visitors, I saw some movement. And, though it was starting to sprinkle — threatening to do a famous Florida thunderstorm downpour, I investigated.

My curiosity paid off when I found this Limpkin. And the rain held off long enough for me to make a photograph that I am proud to add to my catalogue. Following Audubon ethics and best-practices birding photography guidelines in general, I used a long lens to photograph this bird so it was never disturbed by my presence.

The University of Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville states, “these leggy birds seem to limp as they walk across uneven wetland surfaces — hence the name Limpkins.”

Viewing tip for greater detail: Click any of the images on this page for a larger view.

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