Birds diurnal

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Meet the social 'Black Witch' of the brush—a charismatic cuckoo with a massive, textured beak and a fascinating communal lifestyle. The Groove-billed Ani is a master of group living, often seen huddling with its family or following cattle to find a quick snack.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 30-34 cm (12-13.5 in); Wingspan: 43-46 cm (17-18 in); Weight: 70-90 g (2.5-3.2 oz)

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Colors

Dull black plumage throughout with a slight bronze or violet iridescence; the massive black bill features distinct horizontal grooves.

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Key Features

Large, arched black bill with distinct horizontal grooves
Long, floppy tail that appears loosely attached
Uniformly black plumage with a hunched posture
Social behavior, often seen in groups of 3-10 birds

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 7-11 AM and 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round in tropical ranges; March-August in southern Texas

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Diet Primarily insectivorous, focusing on grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. They also eat spiders, small lizards, and occasionally fruit or seeds during the dry season.

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Habitat Semi-open landscapes including brushy pastures, suburban gardens, orchard edges, and second-growth forests.

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Behavior

The Groove-billed Ani is a highly social member of the cuckoo family, almost never found alone. They live in small family groups that move through the undergrowth with a unique 'follow-the-leader' style of flight. These groups are famous for their communal nesting habits; several females will lay their eggs in a single large twig nest, and all members of the group—both parents and non-breeding helpers—work together to incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

In the backyard or pasture, they are often seen 'huddled' together on a single branch, a behavior used for social bonding and heat conservation. They are relatively weak fliers, preferring to hop through dense vegetation or take short, labored flights consisting of quick flaps and long glides. Their presence is often announced by their signature liquid whistle, a 'tee-ho' call that sounds almost like a squeeze toy.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of Groove-billed Anis, place your camera low to the ground—ideally between two and four feet high—near thickets or dense shrubbery. Because these birds are weak fliers and prefer hopping through branches or walking on the turf to hunt insects, a lower mounting angle will catch them at eye level rather than looking down at the tops of their heads. Look for 'edge' habitats where a manicured lawn meets a wilder brush line; these are prime hunting corridors for anis as they scan for grasshoppers.

If you live near agricultural land or have livestock, aim your camera toward the ground where animals graze. Anis are famous for following cattle, horses, or even large dogs to snatch up the insects stirred up in the grass. Because they travel in tight-knit groups, avoid using a tight zoom; a wide-angle setting is much better for capturing the fascinating social dynamics and 'huddling' behavior that makes this species so unique. Setting your camera to a 'burst' photo mode or high-frame-rate video is essential, as their movements are often jerky and their long tails can easily swing out of the frame.

While they aren't typical visitors to seed feeders, you can lure them into your camera's field of view by maintaining a ground-level water basin or a very shallow birdbath. They are frequent and enthusiastic bathers, often visiting water sources during the warmest part of the afternoon. For the best image quality, position your camera so the morning sun is behind it. This low-angle light is perfect for highlighting the subtle horizontal grooves on their bill, which can disappear into a solid black mass in the harsh shadows of midday. If your camera allows for sensitivity adjustments, set the PIR sensor to 'High,' as their dark feathers can sometimes make it difficult for sensors to detect their heat signature against a warm tropical background.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Groove-billed Ani.

Smooth-billed Ani

Lacks the horizontal grooves on the beak and features a much more prominent, knife-like ridge on the top of the bill.

Greater Ani

Significantly larger than the Groove-billed Ani and possesses striking white or pale yellow eyes instead of dark ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Groove-billed Anis are most active during the daylight hours, particularly in the mid-morning when they come out to sun themselves and forage, and again in the late afternoon before they retreat into dense cover to roost together.

The best way to attract them is to provide a 'wild' habitat with plenty of brushy cover and native fruiting shrubs. Since they eat large insects, avoiding pesticides is key. A shallow ground-level water feature is also a major draw for these birds.

Their diet consists mainly of large insects like grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. They are also opportunistic and will eat small lizards, snails, and various fruits or berries depending on the season.

Yes, they are quite common in suburbs within their range, especially in neighborhoods that have a mix of open lawns and thick, ornamental hedges or nearby undeveloped lots.

Look closely at the bill: the Groove-billed Ani has distinct horizontal ridges along the upper half of its beak, whereas the Smooth-billed Ani has a smooth bill with a higher, more arched ridge. Their calls are also different, with the Groove-billed making a whistling 'tee-ho' sound.

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