The Limpkin is in a family of birds related to the rail family (rails, crakes, moorhen etc) and the crane family, amongst others. This group of families is called the Gruiformes, which is one of many orders of birds. Orders of birds end in "formes" (thanks Ron!). Membership in an order often reveals surprising relationships- who would think that the majestic cranes are related to the small, cryptic, skulking crakes and rails?! Limpkins are almost a cross between a crane and a rail. Look at the face and tell me it doesn't look a bit like a Clapper Rail.
The Limpkin is pretty lonely as it is the sole member of its family, the Aramidae. Often in cases like this, there is fossil evidence of other species of limpkins that lived in the past. I have to admit to not knowing much about fossil limpkins though!
Last edited by John Chardine; 09-15-2009 at 05:59 AM.