AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Crotophaga ani
Smooth-billed Ani
Linnaeus, 1758
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
A medium-sized, entirely black cuckoo with a distinctive long, loose-jointed tail. Its most prominent features are its uniform, glossy black plumage with iridescent bronze and purple reflections under clear light, and an extraordinarily high, vertically flattened, smooth-ridged black bill that lacks the deep grooves found in related species.
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Anonymous Curator
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Under Review
Last modified by
Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Cuculiformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Cuculidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Crotophaga
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Linnaeus, 1758
Record Completeness
95%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Increasing
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Omnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Thrives in open and semi-open landscapes, including cattle pastures, agricultural clearings, savanna edges, marsh borders, and suburban gardens. It heavily avoids dense, continuous primary forests, preferring areas with scattered bushes and low trees.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
Highly social birds that live in tightly-knit family groups of 5 to 20 individuals. They are weak flyers with a distinct flap-and-glide flight pattern, spending most of their time on the ground or low bushes. They exhibit complex vocalizations, notably a distinctive, rising 'ouee-ee-k' whistle used as a group contact call.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Extremely cohesive group dynamics. Members participate in communal territory defense, allopreening (mutual feather grooming), and cooperative sentinel behaviors, where one individual watches for predators while the rest of the group feeds on the ground.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Terrestrial omnivore.Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Mainly insectivorous but thoroughly omnivorous. Diet consists of grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, lizards, frogs, berries, and seeds. They frequently follow cattle or tractors to capture flushed insects. Group eggs and nestlings are preyed upon by monkeys, snakes, and large raptors.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Highly cooperative breeders. A single communal nest, a large bulky bowl of twigs lined with green leaves, is constructed by the entire group in a thorny tree. All females lay their chalky blue-green eggs into the shared basket. Incubation and feeding are performed collectively by all group members.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
30.0 - 36.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
85 g - 115 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.3 - 7
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).No
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
10 - 12 Months
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
13 - 15
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males5 - 9 Years
Females5 - 9 Years
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Highly adapted zygodactyl feet (two toes pointing forward, two backward) that allow agility when climbing up through dense, thorny tangles of bushes and weeds.
A deep, laterally compressed bill used effectively as a wedge to pry apart dense grass clutches or flip heavy debris on the ground while searching for concealed prey.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides and agricultural insecticides in pastures, which vastly reduces their food supply and can cause direct secondary poisoning.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
They practice a complex communal nesting strategy where multiple nesting pairs lay their eggs in a single nest, with up to 36 eggs recorded in one communal structure.