Smooth-billed Ani
by Blair Wainman
Title
Smooth-billed Ani
Artist
Blair Wainman
Medium
Photograph - Print Photography
Description
The smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) is a large near passerine bird in the cuckoo family. It is a resident breeding species from southern Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, parts of Central America, south to western Ecuador, Brazil, and northern Argentina. This ani is found in open and semi-open country and areas under cultivation. The nest, built communally by several pairs, is a deep cup lined with leaves and placed usually 2–6 m (6.6–19.7 ft) high in a tree. A number of females lay their chalky blue eggs in the nest and then share incubation and feeding. Each female is capable of laying up to seven eggs, and nests have been found containing up to 29 eggs, but it is rare for more than ten to hatch. Incubation is 13–15 days, with another 10 days to fledging. Up to three broods may be raised in a season, with the young of earlier broods helping to feed more recent chicks.
The smooth-billed ani is a mid-sized species, larger on average than the groove-billed ani but smaller than the greater ani. It measures 30–36 cm (12–14 in) in length and weighs 71–133 g (2.5–4.7 oz).[3][4] The adult is mainly flat black, with a long tail, deep ridged black bill and a brown iris. The flight is weak and wobbly, but the bird runs well and usually feeds on the ground. This is a very gregarious species, always found in noisy groups. The calls include a whining ooo-leeek. The smooth-billed ani feeds on termites, large insects and even lizards and frogs. They will occasionally remove ticks and other parasites from grazing animals.
This pair was captured near Salento, Quindio, Colombia, South America.
Uploaded
April 22nd, 2020
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Comments (4)
Don Columbus
Congratulations Blair, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Dawn Currie
Thank you for submitting this fine image of this identified wild bird. It is now featured on the homepage of Wild Birds Of The World - A Nature Photography Group. Please take a moment to add it to the 2020 Thanks and Features Archive discussion for additional visibility.
Vickie Emms
Lovely work Blair!
Blair Wainman replied:
Thank you Vickie! Just dusting off some photos from the past trying to fill in for lack thereof. Good to see you here again!