Greater Ani (Crotophaga major)

Order: Cuculiformes | Family: Cuculidae | IUCN Status: Least Concerngreater_ani
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian, Brazil

greater_ani
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian, Brazil

greater_ani
Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru

greater_ani
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian, Brazil


Identification & Behavior: ~47 cm (18.5 in). The Greater Ani is all glossy blue-black. The iris is noticeably white. The bill is thick with a hump in the culmen.  The tail is long. It is mostly found in thick vegetation growing at the edges of bodies of water. It is often found in flocks. It resembles the Smooth-billed Ani but is distinguished by larger size, white iris, and habitat use.

Status: The Greater Ani is common in Amazonia. It appears to undergo intra-Amazonian movements as they disappear in areas where were common in other times of the year. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Garrapatero Grande.

Sub-species: Greater Ani (Crotophaga major), J. L. Gmelin, 1788.

Meaning of Name: Crotophaga: Gr. Kroton= tick and phagos, phagein= eat. major: L. major= greater.

See more of the Family Cuculidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
greater aniVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 08/01/2015.