: a large brown wading bird (Aramus guarauna) of southern Georgia, Florida, and Central and South America that resembles a bittern but has a longer slightly curved bill, longer neck and legs, and white stripes on head and neck

Examples of limpkin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Egrets, turkeys, herons, limpkin and ducks are among some of the birds visitors might see during their park visit. Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, 13 Aug. 2019 An older gentleman behind me then struck up a conversation, telling me more about the long-legged limpkin. Shafaq Patel, Axios, 19 Feb. 2025 The limpkin's unmistakable voice was said to be audible at 500 yards (about a third of a mile). Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 15 June 2021 Canoes and kayaks glide past herons, egrets, limpkin, wood ducks, and even the occasional otter or manatee, while beavers and turtles sun themselves on logs along the banks. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2026 Songbirds, limpkins and woodpeckers are also noisily making sure they are heard, while burrowing owls are popping up in open pastures. Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2023 Wildlife-lovers flock to Brazos Bend to check out the swampy wetlands and woodlands and hang with alligators, armadillos and a limpkin. Diana Spechler, Chron, 14 Oct. 2021 Birders are flocking to Scituate, Massachusetts to catch a glimpse of a tropical bird called a limpkin, which has never been spotted in New England before. Neal Riley, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from limp entry 1

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of limpkin was in 1871

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Limpkin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limpkin. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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