Smooth-billed ani

Smooth-billed ani
File:Smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) GC.JPG
in Grand Cayman
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Genus:	Crotophaga
Species:	C. ani
Binomial name
Crotophaga ani Linnaeus, 1758

The smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) is a large near passerine bird in the cuckoo family. It is a resident breeding species from southern Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, parts of Central America, south to western Ecuador, Brazil, and northern Argentina.

This ani is found in open and semi-open country and areas under cultivation. The nest, built communally by several pairs, is a deep cup lined with leaves and placed usually 2–6 m (6.6–19.7 ft) high in a tree. A number of females lay their chalky blue eggs in the nest and then share incubation and feeding.

Each female is capable of laying up to seven eggs, and nests have been found containing up to 29 eggs, but it is rare for more than ten to hatch. Incubation is 13–15 days, with another 10 days to fledging. Up to three broods may be raised in a season, with the young of earlier broods helping to feed more recent chicks.

The smooth-billed ani is a mid-sized species, larger on average than the groove-billed ani but smaller than the greater ani. It measures 30–36 cm (12–14 in) in length and weighs 71–133 g (2.5–4.7 oz). The adult is mainly flat black, with a long tail, deep ridged black bill and a brown iris. The flight is weak and wobbly, but the bird runs well and usually feeds on the ground.

This is a very gregarious species, always found in noisy groups. The calls include a whining ooo-leeek. The smooth-billed ani feeds on termites, large insects and even lizards and frogs. They will occasionally remove ticks and other parasites from grazing animals.

This common and conspicuous species has greatly benefited from deforestation.

This species is called "el pijul" in Venezuelan folklore. It is mentioned in the popular Veracruz song "El Pijul".

• Crotophaga ani MWNH 1214.JPG

  Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden

• Smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) To.jpg

  in Tobago

• Smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani).jpg

  in Jamaica

• Smooth-billed ani.jpg

  in Dominica

External links

• Smooth-billed Ani Images at Monte M. Taylor's Photo Gallery
• Pictures, description, maps at www.surinamebirds.nl
• Smooth-billed ani videos, photos, and sounds at the Internet Bird Collection
• Smooth-billed Ani Bird Sound at Florida Museum of Natural History
• BirdLife species factsheet for Crotophaga ani
• Smooth-billed ani photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
• Smooth-billed ani species account at NeotropicalBirds (Cornell University)

• Interactive range map of Crotophaga ani at IUCN Red List maps
• Audio recordings of Smooth-billed ani on Xeno-canto.