Groove-billed Ani

Description:

The groove-billed ani is about 34 cm (13 in) long, and weighs 70–90 g (2.5–3.2 oz). It is completely black, with a very long tail almost as long as its body. It has a huge bill with horizontal grooves along the length of the upper mandible. It is very similar to the smooth-billed ani, some of which have bills as small as the groove-billed and with grooves on the basal half. The two species are best distinguished by voice and range. In flight, the ani alternates between quick, choppy flaps and short glides.

Habitat:

The range of the species extends from the Gulf Coast of southern Texas and the Gulf regions of Mexico over the entire Central America and eastwards along the South American Gulf Coast to Guyana. Colonized are also the coastal Gulf Islands Mexico and Central America as Cozumel and the South American Gulf Coast barrier islands, for example, Trinidad. Some of these islands, about Bonaire, Curacao or Aruba achieved the kind only in the course of the past century. . On the Pacific side hatch Riefenschnabelanis of the Mexican province of Sonora south through Central America, the South American Pacific areas near Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to northern Chile and the extreme northwest of Argentina. Extinguished are breeding population in Louisiana and in the southern areas of Baja California and some offshore islands. In contrast to the other two species of the genus Riefenschnabelanis are mostly to be found in only moderately moist areas. Bush strips and tree islands at the edges of pastures, meadows, orchards or plantations, clearing areas with isolated trees and shrubs, but also open, loosely wooded or bush interspersed grasslands constitute preferred breeding habitats. Widespread are Riefenschnabelanis especially in the lowlands and at altitudes not exceeding 500 meters. Irregular breeding population, however, are known from much greater heights of up to 2700 meters in Ecuador and Peru.