I spotted these two Limpkins the other evening as they emerged from the reeds along the water’s edge with an Apple Snail, a favorite treat. The juvenile waited patiently as its parent expertly extracted the Apple Snail from its shell.
“The Limpkin’s bill is uniquely adapted to foraging on apple snails. The closed bill has a gap just before the tip that makes the bill act like tweezers. The tip itself is often curved slightly to the right so it can be slipped into the right-handed chamber of the snail.” (All About Birds, Limpkin).
Yummy~! It made me smile to see the adult hand over the succulent mollusk to the happy youngster. The Limpkin is a common wading bird here in our swamps and marshes, but is not related to herons, egrets, cranes or other wading birds – it’s in a Family of its own. 
Though they often blend in visually with their surroundings, Limpkins are easily recognized by the sound of their “piercing banshee wails” (Audubon). Listen to this short Bird Note episode for more interesting info about the Limpkin . . . and a taste of his screeching early morning call.
Birder's Journey 
Fun, fascinating, and especially informative. I’ll look a bit differently now at these unique birds and their amazing adaptations.
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Thanks for the great feedback, Berny! Amazing to read about the Limpkin’s specialized skills, isn’t it?
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Spectacular photos.
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So kind of you, Sherry! I’m happy that you enjoyed them
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Great photos, and I love the story. Sweet Mama! 🙂
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It was fun to watch them together. Wish my shots of the juvenile running off to enjoy his treat alone had come out better.
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Wonderful shots. Their bills are feats of engineering.
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They sure are! I find it fascinating to learn about the specialized designs of so many birds׳ bills, whether birds of prey, wading birds, or songbirds.
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Nice photos. And it looks like that snail has quite a lovely shell. 🙂
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Thank you, Kathy! That was a beautiful large shell, and in fact there were several. Good day for the Limpkins, bad day for the Apple Snails:)
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I like your unusual capture of the parent feeding the juvenile the apple snail. Nicely done.
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Thank you! I’ve often seen Limpkins banging apple snail shells on rocks, and prying them open. And I’ve often seen Limpkin chicks, but this was a special treat to watch!
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Really wonderful photos, BJ. Limpkins are not common in most places, I have traversed many miles to see just one. So your juvenile here huddled with parent, with the snails, is truly a treat.
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Why thank you so much, Jet! The Limpkins are so common in our area that I forget how unique they must be to people who live in other regions.
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Love the first photo with the little one peeking through!!
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Thanks Yaffa! They were so sweet together.
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