As to be expected around the start of spring, lots of animals are out and about looking for mates or nesting areas. But one animal that makes its presence known loudly in South Florida is the limpkin. As they are well camouflaged in wetland areas in South and Central America, and the southern part of North America (although there have been sightings of them as far up as Wisconsin and even into Canada), they are heard more than they are seen. These birds are known for being very loud with their characteristic screeches and wails made especially by the male. These sounds are made when they are courting another mate, establishing territory, feeding, or when a predator such as an alligator is spotted. They are often heard around dusk, dawn, and during the night. So, if you hear an unknown screech during the nighttime that wakes you up, it might just be a limpkin calling to others.
These birds tend to prefer hot, humid wetland areas, but can also be spotted in agricultural areas such as cane fields and canals or ditches. They are active during the day but can also be found foraging around in wetland areas at night. They stay around wetland areas because they forage primarily in shallow waters and tend to stay under covered areas. Here in Florida, they primarily eat apple snails with their beaks adapted to easily extract these snails out of their shells. They will also eat other types of snails and freshwater mussels. During times of drought or flooding, they will eat other organisms such as insects, frogs, crustaceans, and worms. Their long toes allow these birds to stand on floating plants to look for food underneath the plants.
Below is a link to some limpkin calls: