Latin Etymology: Crotophaga ("tick eating") sulcirostris ("furrow billed")
Two Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025
Featured Subspecies: None - monotypic
Weight: 70-90g / Length: 34cm / Wingspan: 41-46cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
An unusual member of the cuckoo family that instead of being a brood parasites actually nest communally and travel in small flocks. They build a single nest between the group and all females take turns in incubating and feeding the offspring. While the name crotophaga refers to the belief they pick ticks off larger animals, there is no evidence of this behaviour.
Related Species:
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genus: Crotophaga
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic
- Sighting Locations -
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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