Smooth-billed ani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smooth-billed ani |
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Crotophaga
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| Species: |
ani
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The smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) is a large bird from the cuckoo family. It lives in warm parts of the Americas. You can find it from southern Florida and the Caribbean down to Brazil and northern Argentina. This bird was brought to the Galápagos Islands around the 1960s. It might be affecting other native birds there.
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What Does the Smooth-billed Ani Look Like?
The smooth-billed ani is a medium-sized bird. It is bigger than the groove-billed ani but smaller than the greater ani. This bird is about 30 to 36 centimeters (12 to 14 inches) long. It weighs between 71 and 133 grams (2.5 to 4.7 ounces).
Adult smooth-billed anis are mostly black. They have a long tail and a thick, ridged black beak. Their eyes are brown. These birds do not fly very strongly. Their flight looks a bit wobbly. But they are good at running and usually find their food on the ground. In Venezuela, people sometimes call this bird "el pijul." It is even mentioned in a popular song from Veracruz.
Where Do Smooth-billed Anis Live?
This type of ani likes open areas and places where people grow crops. Several pairs of anis build their nest together. The nest is a deep cup made of leaves. It is usually placed about 2 to 6 meters (6 to 20 feet) high in a tree. Many female anis lay their chalky blue eggs in the same nest. Then, they all help to sit on the eggs and feed the baby birds. This bird is quite common. It has actually done well because of deforestation, which means forests being cut down.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Each female ani can lay up to seven eggs. Sometimes, a single nest can have as many as 29 eggs! However, usually no more than ten eggs hatch. The eggs take about 13 to 15 days to hatch. The young birds are ready to leave the nest about 10 days after hatching.
Smooth-billed anis can raise up to three groups of babies in one season. The older young birds from earlier broods will help feed the newer chicks. This is a special way they care for their families.
What Do Smooth-billed Anis Eat and Sound Like?
Smooth-billed anis are very social birds. They are always found in noisy groups. Their calls sound like a whining "ooo-leeek."
These birds eat termites and other large insects. They also hunt small animals like lizards and frogs. Sometimes, they even pick ticks and other tiny bugs off grazing animals.
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See also
In Spanish: Garrapatero aní para niños
