Smooth-billed Ani
A species of Anis Scientific name : Crotophaga ani Genus : Anis
Smooth-billed Ani, A species of Anis
Botanical name: Crotophaga ani
Genus: Anis
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Gillfoto , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
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). 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 species is called "el pijul" in Venezuelan folklore. It is mentioned in the popular Veracruz song "El Pijul". 
Size
30-36 cm (12-14 in)
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
3 - 36 eggs
Feeding Habits
Smooth-billed Ani primarily consume insects, small lizards, and various fruits. They exhibit quick pounces for insect capture and awkward hopping in vegetation to flush out prey or pluck fruits. They opportunistically feed near cattle or army ant swarms to exploit flushed prey, eating grasshoppers, beetles, and other invertebrates, complementing their diet with gumbo-limbo and palm fruits.
Habitat
Smooth-billed Ani predominantly inhabits lowland tropical environments, frequently found in savannas, pastures, and second-growth scrublands. They are adaptable to disturbed and human-modified landscapes, including suburban areas, parks, and agricultural fields. These birds show a preference for regions near fresh water bodies like ponds, rivers, and marshes, often roosting in nearby reeds or cane. They can thrive in arid zones with thorn scrub and are also found in mountainous regions at altitudes up to 8,200 feet, indicating a versatile adaptability to various ecological conditions.
Nest Behavior
Paired smooth-billed Ani select multiple potential nest sites, with group consensus on one. The communal nest's construction involves all group members. Egg-laying and parental care are shared responsibilities.
Nest Characteristics
The smooth-billed Ani's nest is a bulky twig cup, 11.8 inches wide and 5.9 inches high, lined with green leaves. Located 2-50 feet up in trees or bushes, occasionally in thorny areas, palms, bamboo, or vine tangles.
Dite type
Omnivorous
General Info
Sounds
Call
Recording location: Suriname
Call
Recording location: Venezuela
Behavior
Smooth-billed Ani exhibit highly social and cooperative behaviors, living in communal groups that perform a collective suite of activities such as feeding, roosting, and territory defense. Sentinel duty is a distinctive trait where individuals stand guard to watch for danger while others forage. Close-knit interactions include mutual preening, emphasizing their social bonds. Breeding behavior is semi-monogamous, involving courtship displays with food gifts and shared responsibilities in raising offspring, such as communal nesting and chick-feeding. Post-breeding, smooth-billed Ani may form larger flocks, showcasing a flexible approach to territoriality and sociability.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Cuckoos and Relatives Family
Cuckoos Genus
Anis Species
Smooth-billed Ani 
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