Heron? Ibis? (1 Viewer)

This one has stumped me. Two of these brownish-black birds with yellowish beaks were by themselves foraging in recently upturned soil in the Sugar Cane fields (after harvesting of the cane).

About 400 yards from them were hundreds of Cattle Egrets doing the same.

I couldn't determine if the birds were Herons or some Ibis type. The beak doesn't look sufficiently curved downwards to be an Ibis, but the body shape is very Ibis like. The birds seemed between 18 and 24 inches tall.

Any ideas?

rka

It appears to be a Limpkin. ~GECSOS

Well Gecsos has spoken and he is seldom, if ever, wrong.

The Limpkin is named for its odd limp like walk. According to Sibley, it is more often heard then seen so I guess you were quite fortuante.

Limpkin, indeed. I've never seen one outside of
Florida-- appears to be darker on the back in Trinidad.

I've seen several in Florida and (as Charles pointed out),more pale streaking on the back was apparent.It would also perhaps be larger than your estimate?