Species › Birds › Groove-billed Ani

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

UncommonBird
Illustration of Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris)

The Groove-billed Ani is a social cuckoo that lives in communal groups of 2–4 pairs that share a single nest, with all members helping to incubate eggs and care for young. The deep grooves on the large, curved black bill are the main distinction from the Smooth-billed Ani. In the US it is found mainly in southern Texas.

Habitat
Brushy fields, pastures, and scrub of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Diet
Insects, lizards, and berries
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Groove-billed Ani

The best time to see a Groove-billed Ani is April–September, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,904 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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