Limpkin
Limpkin has edged down: down 13% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Limpkin
The Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) is a North American member of the Limpkin (Aramidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the wetland birds.
- Size
- about 26 in long (66 cm) — a large wading bird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Marshes, ponds, lakeshores and other freshwater wetlands.
- Diet
- Aquatic invertebrates, small fish, frogs and plant matter.
- Range
- Recorded on 67 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 5 states, most concentrated in the Peninsular Florida.
- Family
- Aramidae · Wetland birds
Notable Limpkin Trends
No notable trend signals for Limpkin. See the full index history below.
Limpkin Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Limpkin is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.01 (95% range 0.00–0.03). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±71.6%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
| Year | Projected index | 95% low | 95% high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| 2026 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| 2027 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| 2028 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| 2029 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.03 |
Where the Limpkin Is Detected
BBS routes recording Limpkin, sized by most recent count.
Limpkin Population Trend by State
| Alabama | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| Florida | -34% | 1968 | 58 |
| Georgia | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| Louisiana | insufficient data | n/a | 6 |
| Texas | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
Limpkin Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
| Peninsular Florida | -42% | 1968 | 53 |
Limpkin Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it down about 13% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.