Birds
Groove-billed Ani
Crotophaga sulcirostris
Grooves running along its bill set a groove-billed ani apart from its nearly identical relative the smooth-billed ani, though both share the same striking communal nesting habits found across their overlapping ranges in the Americas.
Overview
The groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris, is a Least Concern bird found across grassland and forest habitat from the southern United States through Central America into much of South America. Its all-black plumage, distinctive grooved bill, and communal nesting system shared with the closely related smooth-billed ani make it one of the more socially cooperative birds in the cuckoo family.
Told apart by the bill
With plumage nearly identical to the smooth-billed ani, the groove-billed ani is most reliably distinguished by the shallow grooves running along its bill, a subtle but consistent difference between the two closely related species.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and common across suitable open habitat throughout its extensive range.
Groove-billed Ani: common questions
How can you tell the groove-billed ani from the smooth-billed ani?
The groove-billed ani carries a series of shallow grooves running along the length of its bill, while the closely related smooth-billed ani has a smooth bill ridge instead.
How does the groove-billed ani nest?
Like its relative the smooth-billed ani, it nests communally, with multiple females laying eggs together in a single shared nest that the social group cooperatively incubates and defends.
What does the groove-billed ani eat?
It is an insectivore, foraging on the ground and in low vegetation for insects.
Where is the groove-billed ani found?
It ranges from the southwestern United States through Central America into much of South America.