Groove-Billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) lives in tropical dry forests across Texas and northern Mexico. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Groove-Billed Ani
- The groove-billed ani's bill is enormous and bears lengthwise grooves along the entire upper mandible, giving it a furrowed look that inspired its name. The specific epithet sulcirostris combines the Latin sulcus for "furrow" with -rostris meaning "-billed". This bird measures about 34 cm in length and weighs between 70 and 90 g, with a wingspan of 41-46 cm. Its huge, curved beak and very long tail are distinctive features of this wholly black tropical cuckoo.
- Groove-billed anis live in small groups comprising one to five breeding pairs that jointly defend a single territory. They are resident throughout most of their range, retreating from the northern limits in Texas and northern Mexico during winter.
- All members of a groove-billed ani group share one communal nest in which they lay their eggs together. Every adult takes turns incubating the clutch and later feeding the chicks, ensuring constant care. This cooperative nesting occurs within the small groups of one to five breeding pairs that the species forms. Such shared responsibility allows the birds to raise young successfully in open habitats.
- In flight the groove-billed ani combines rapid, jerky wingbeats with brief glides, alternating quick, choppy flaps and short soaring periods. This pattern is performed over the open pastures, savannas and orchards it favours, where its long wings of 41-46 cm span give it agility. The alternating strokes help it manoeuvre through the partly open country while searching for insects, seeds and fruit.
- All groove-billed anis belong to a single taxonomic unit; the species has no recognised subspecies and retains the original binomial Crotophaga sulcirostris everywhere it occurs. It was first described by English naturalist William Swainson from a specimen collected in Temascaltepec, Mexico, and the name combines the Latin sulcus meaning "furrow" with -rostris meaning "-billed".
Sources
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At a glance
RangeTexas and northern Mexico
HabitatTropical dry forests
DietInsects and fruit
About the Groove-Billed Ani
In the sun-drenched savannas and open woodlands, the Groove-Billed Ani moves with a singular air of purpose, its glossy black plumage and distinctive keel-billed profile slicing through the underbrush with an almost furtive intent. As it forages for insects and small reptiles, its long, pointed tail feathers bob and twitch, like a metronome marking the rhythm of its hunt, while its sharp, inquisitive eyes scan the terrain for the next unsuspecting morsel. With its bold, social nature and communal nesting habits, the Groove-Billed Ani is a truly remarkable creature, weaving its presence into the very fabric of its ecosystem.
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