English             -                Greater Ani

Portuguese      -                Anu-coroca

Latin                  -                Crotophaga major

Out of all the birds I photographed at Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA) in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the Greater Ani was one of my favourites. Not only is it an attractive looking bird but a I found it a bit of a challenge to photograph. Unlike its smaller cousin, the Smooth Billed Ani, (Blog # 3) the Greater Ani was quite a shy bird and would flee as soon as they felt your presence. I was lucky though on one occasion, when I was walking around the wetlands (Yellow trail) at REGUA and a group of Greater Ani were busy feeding in a tree in front of me. I managed to sneak up and get reasonably close and take some reasonable photos before they noticed me and fled.

* Medium to large size bird. Adults can get to 48 cm in length and weigh around 165 gr.

* The Greater Ani is a member of the Cuckoo family and it is also called the black cuckoo.

* They range from Panama and Trinidad through to South America as far south as to northern Argentina. East of the Andes.

* They inhabit mangrove swamps, semi-open woodland near water, and forest edges.

* Their calls are described as croaking and turkey-like gobbling kro-koro.

* The Greater Ani feeds mainly on insects, but will also feed on lizards, fruits, berries and seeds.

* The Greater Ani has a very bad odour which helps protect it from creditors.

* The conservation status of the Greater Ani is classified as a species ”of Least Concern”. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this species is locally abundant in areas of appropriate habitat. Within its range though nesting habitats are being destroyed by the clearing of forests along rivers, lakes, and other waterways, and by the filling and dredging of marshes and swamps.