A wading bird in a family of its own (Aramidae), with no close living relatives. Dark chestnut plumage with abundant white spots and streaks on the neck, breast and wings that give it a mottled appearance. The bill is long and slightly downcurved, yellow with a dark tip. The legs are long and dark. In flight the legs dangle conspicuously. It measures 64 to 73 cm. Its local name is an onomatopoeia of its call: a powerful, wailing cry that echoes across the marshes, especially at night.
Behaviour
A specialist in apple snails (Pomacea), which make up most of its diet. It extracts them from the aquatic plants or the mud with its curved bill. It also eats aquatic insects, frogs and the seeds of marsh plants. Solitary or in pairs in the dense vegetation of the wetland.
How and when to see it
Year round. It is heard at nightfall before it is seen. On night boat excursions its eyes shine in the flashlight beam over the water hyacinths.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where limpkin has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where limpkin lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiencias con relato local y mirada cultural sobre los esteros.★ 5.0 - Gaucho Argentino
Travesías a caballo por una red de refugios en el Iberá. Cabalgatas de varios días con…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Senderismo guiado. Visita guiada a museos, lugares históricos, capillas y senderos del…★ 5.0 - Salvaje Iberá
Senderismo, cicloturismo, safari fotográfico, avistaje de fauna, paseos largos en el día…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameLimpkin
- Scientific nameAramus guarauna
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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