Back to the Missouri State Bears Newsfeed

Unique bird spotted on Lake Springfield, only eighth of its kind ever recorded in Missouri

An interesting bird has been spotted on Lake Springfield — seemingly more than 1,000 miles from home.

A tropical wetland bird known as a limpkin was wading the waters of Lake Springfield when a maintenance supervisor saw it, said Springfield Conservation Nature Center Naturalist Morgan Wyatt.

Eric McMillan, the maintenance supervisor, was doing his early morning routines when he saw the brown feathered bird, Wyatt told the News-Leader. He took a photo and told the nature center's employees about what he spotted.

The group rushed to investigate. After referencing bird guides and checking with other birders, they agreed: the bird appeared to be an adult limpkin.