Greater Ani
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| Greater Ani | ||||||||||||||
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| Crotophaga major (Gmelin, 1788) |
The Greater Ani, Crotophaga major, is a large near-passerine bird in the cuckoo family. It is a breeding species from Panama and Trinidad through tropical South America to northern Argentina. It is sometimes referred to as the black cuckoo.
This ani is found in mangrove swamps, semi-open woodland near water, and the edges of forests. It is a seasonal smigrant in at least some parts of its range. The nest, built communally by several pairs, is a deep cup lined with leaves and placed usually 2-5 m high in a tree. A number of females lay their chalky deep blue eggs in the nest and then share incubation and feeding. Nests have been found containing 3-10 eggs.
The Greater Ani is about 48 cm long and weighs 170 g. The adult is mainly blue-glossed black, with a long tail, massive ridged black bill, and a white iris. Immature birds have a dark iris.
This is a very gregarious species, always found in noisy groups. The calls include croaking and turkey-like gobbling kro-koro. The Greater Ani feeds on large insect and even lizards and frogs.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Crotophaga major. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, 2nd edition, Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2.
- Hilty, Steven L (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5.
