The smooth-billed ani (''Crotophaga ani'') is a bird in the cuckoo family. It is a resident breeding species from southern Florida, the Caribbean, parts of Central America, south to western Ecuador, Brazil, northern Argentina and southern Chile. It was introduced to Galápagos around the 1960s and is potentially impacting native and endemic species across the archipelago.

Taxonomy

The smooth-billed ani was described and illustrated in 1648 by the German naturalist Georg Marcgrave in his ''Historia Naturalis Brasiliae''. He used the name "Ani" but did not explain the origin of the word. It probably comes from the word ''Anim'' in the Tupi language which means "social bird". In 1756 the Irish physician Patrick Browne (physician), Patrick Browne used the name ''Crotophaga'' for the species in his ''The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica''. Browne's name combines the Ancient Greek meaning "tick" with meaning "-eating". Browne wrote that the smooth-billed anis "live chiefly upon ticks and other small vermin; and may be frequently seen jumping about all cows and oxen in the fields". When the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his ''Systema Naturae'' for the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, tenth edition in 1758 he included the smooth-billed ani. He placed it in its own genus ''Crotophaga'' and coined the binomial nomenclature, binomial name ''Crotophaga ani''. The type locality (biology), type locality is Jamaica. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.

Description

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 approximately in overall length. Males weigh around while females are lighter and with a weight of around . The adult is mainly glossy black, with a long tail, deep ridged black bill and a brown iris. The flight is weak and wobbly, but the bird cursorial, runs well and usually feeds on the ground. This species is called "el pijul" in Venezuelan folklore. The calls include a whining ''ooo-leeek''.

Distribution and habitat

This ani (bird), ani is found in open and semi-open country and areas under cultivation. This common and conspicuous species has greatly benefited from deforestation.

Behaviour

This is a very gregarious species, always found in noisy groups.

Breeding

The nest, built communally by several pairs, is a deep cup lined with leaves and placed usually high in a tree. A number of females lay their chalky blue Bird egg, eggs in the Bird nest, 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.

Food and feeding

The smooth-billed ani feeds on termites, large insects, other invertebrates and even lizards, frogs, eggs and hatchlings of other birds, and fruit. They will occasionally remove ticks and other parasites from grazing animals.

Conservation status

The smooth-billed ani is considered Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List. Declines in the South Florida population were recorded as the state delayed its protection decision for the species.

Gallery

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 Crotophaga.ani.colombia.cali.jpg, In Colombia Smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) with stick Sumaco.jpg, carrying nesting material, Ecuador

References

Sources

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q256046 Birds described in 1758 Birds of Brazil Birds of Central America Birds of Colombia Birds of Ecuador Birds of Haiti Birds of Peru Birds of Puerto Rico Birds of the Bahamas Birds of the Caribbean Birds of the Dominican Republic Birds of Venezuela Crotophaga Native birds of the Southeastern United States Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus