Greater Ani

Greater Ani
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Cuculiformes
Family:	Cuculidae
Genus:	Crotophaga
Species:	C. major
Binomial name
Crotophaga major (Gmelin, 1788)

The Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) is a large 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 migrant 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 (6.6–16.4 ft) 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 (19 in) long and weighs 170 g (6.0 oz). 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.

References

• ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd edition ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2. 
• Hilty, Steven L (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5. 

External links

• USDA ITIS
• Ani defined

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crotophaga major.

Wikispecies has information related to: Crotophaga major

• BirdLife species factsheet for Crotophaga major
• Greater Ani videos, photos, and sounds at the Internet Bird Collection
• Greater Ani photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)

• Greater Ani species account at NeotropicalBirds (Cornell University)