| Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) |
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Crotophaga ani occurs in southern Florida, the West Indies (including the islands off northern Central America, and also Tobago, and Trinidad), from the Pacific slope of Costa Rica south to western Ecuador and northern Argentina; introduced into the Galapagos. C. ani inhabits savannas, scrublands, second-growth, parks, and suburbs; benefited from deforestation; generally in lowlands, but up to 2,500 m in the Andes. Medium-sized cuculid (length 29-37 cm, weight 70-130 g). The plumage is coal-black with some iridescence; arched, laterally flattened bill; short and broad wings; long tail. Gregarious species, which nests, roosts, and feeds in groups (up to 17). The communally built nest is a deep bulky cup lined with leaves, in a thorny bush or tree 0.6-15 m off the ground. Several females lay eggs in the nest (3-7 eggs each), with as many as 36 eggs found; only those in top layer are properly incubated, and hatch. Incubation 13-15 days, shared by members of the group; the young fledge after 5-10 days; 1-3 broods a year; the young of earlier broods help to feed chicks from subsequent broods. C. ani feeds on insects (orthopterans, caterpillars, moths, termite alates, etc.), spiders, ticks, tree snails, and sometimes small lizards and treefrogs. Fruit is eaten mainly in the dry season.
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