A limpkin has been seen around Magee Marsh in Ottawa County recently. Magee is located about 2.5 hours north of Columbus. This photo was taken Nov. 18 by Ohio Division of Wildlife staff photographer Tim Daniel.
This species is a large wading bird that feeds on snails and is usually only found in southern Florida and the tropics. A limpkin’s bill is unique because it is shaped in such a way to separate snails from their shells. The bird’s first Magee Marsh sighting was reported in August 2019 and has been seen sporadically recently. Nature is sometimes unpredictable and we will never know why this limpkin is here in The Buckeye State.
Learn more about this interesting visitor: allaboutbirds.org/guide/Limpkin/overview