Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

eBird describes the Groove-billed Ani like this: Anis are bizarre, coal-black cuckoos with long floppy tails and unique, curiously tall, flattened bills. Groove-billed occurs in a variety of open and semi-open habitats in tropical lowlands and foothills, typically staying low in shrubs and grasses. Gregarious and not particularly graceful; usually seen crashing around awkwardly in small groups. Flies with choppy wingbeats and long glides. Widespread and common throughout Middle America, as far north as Texas. In South America, primarily occurs west of the Andes; also in inter-Andean valleys and lowlands of northern Colombia and Venezuela. Compare with the very similar Smooth-billed Ani, which overlaps locally. Note especially the bill shape: Groove-billed typically has a lower, more evenly rounded top edge to the bill without an obvious keel, and the lower edge of the bill is straighter. Grooves are distinctive but can be difficult to see. Voice is also important: listen for a sharp “PIT!-tooee” and other sharp clicks and whistles. 

The Birds of the World website introduces the Groove-billed Ani with this descriptive information:  This plain-looking black bird, common in open savanna and pastureland of Central and northern South America, has one of the most intriguing breeding systems of any bird. Individuals live in social groups of 1–5 pairs that defend a group territory. All females of a breeding group lay their eggs in a single nest, and the joint clutch is incubated and cared for by all members of the group. Joint nesting also occurs in other members of the Crotophaginae—the Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani), the Greater Ani (C. major), and the Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira). The unusual nesting habits of the Groove-billed Ani include the females’ behavior of removing eggs from the nest before beginning to lay their own.  This ani feeds on orthopterans, other insects, spiders, and small vertebrates, which individuals capture as they walk or hop through vegetation. In open pasture-lands of Central America, anis are typically seen with livestock, chasing prey that move or fly up as the animals walk through the grass.

I met, and photographed, my first  on the afternoon of Saturday, February 11, 2023 in Costa Rica.  Our birding group with Tropical Birding Tours was making our way from Hotel Villa Lapas up to the Monteverde area when we spotted a small group of Groove-billed Ani near the road we were traveling on.  We stopped, and while they were some distance from the road, were able to see them clearly and get some photographs. watched this bird.