General

Groove-billed Ani: Medium-sized black bird with iridescent blue and green overtones, with a very long tail (half the length of the bird). Bill is huge, with arched ridge and narrow grooves. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Groove-billed Ani: Resident in lower Rio Grande Valley; also occurs in American tropics. Preferred habitats include semi-open habitats, avoiding unbroken forests, including overgrown fields, thickets, and woodland edges.

Breeding and Nesting

Groove-billed Ani: Three to four pale blue eggs are laid in a nest made of sticks, lined with fresh vegetation, and built from 5 to 15 feet above the ground in a low tree or shrub. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents; alpha male may incubate at night.

Foraging and Feeding

Groove-billed Ani: Forages by following livestock to catch insects disturbed by grazing; sometimes picks ticks from the backs of cattle. Also takes fruits, berries, small lizards, frogs, and snakes.

Vocalization

Groove-billed Ani: Song is a soft, gurgling "TEE-hoe", repeated from 10 to 12 times. Call is a rollicking "wee-cup."

Similar Species

Groove-billed Ani: Smooth-billed Ani has a larger bill with a smooth curvature to the bill angle and grooves, and different voice. Common Grackle has long, pointed bill, pale eyes, and male has long, keeled tail.