The Greater Ani

[Missi]

The Greater Ani (Crotophaga major), or Black Cuckoo, is a bird that may become available from birdsexpress.net.

This is a Central & South American species of cuckoo that inhabits swampland habitats & usually perches & nests in the mangroves.

Its diet consists of insects, caterpillars, sometimes small lizards & frogs -- also, berries & fruits.

Some may see it as a plain & boring black bird, but I think it is absolutely stunning with its bulky beak & boat-like tail.

Photo credit: Hermann Redies

This is the only decent video I can find of the bird:


YouTube - Greater Ani

 

[srtiels]

Wow!...what an unusal looking birds. Look at those eyes!

 

[Missi]

I had seen them on a Nature special quite a while ago & fell in love with their look. While browsing the BirdsExpress website, I was reminded of them so I thought I'd do a bit of research. They don't seem to be found in Aviculture at all. I do hope BE gets some in the Spring. They hope to as well.

 

[srtiels]

Ah...it looks like you are leaning towards a variety of softbills. Another cool bird from South American is the red crested cardinal

 

[J*M*L]

OMG that's a scary looking bird! Beautiful eye color, though!

 

[Missi]

Ah...it looks like you are leaning towards a variety of softbills. Another cool bird from South American is the red crested cardinal

Thanks to you & Carole, my eyes have been opened to a whole new world in the exotic softbills. They have me ABSOLUTELY intrigued! I also like the fact that little is know about many of them. The more rare, the more intriguing

 

[srtiels]

I've I have found the same thing. So little detailed info. Most info is too basic if considering a new species that is less commonly found. I'm on softbill and mousebird Yahoo lists, and yet it is still hard to get many to disclose detailed info

What you might do is do a Google search on what Zoo's keep the species you are interested in and see if the keepers can give more specific info. In FL many of the zoo's would have many of the more exotic and rarer softbills.

 

[waterfaller1]

That's what I was going to suggest, the zoos, and also forums in the UK are inclined towards softbills more so than here. I am a member of a couple exclusively for softbills. I have a link to an Australian zoo that has many species listed...let me see if I can find it. His eyes and beak are incredible!
edit:here~
http://www.australasianzookeeping.org/Husbandry Manuals - Birds.htm#Top

http://fssuk.org/index.php

 

[waterfaller1]

Here's a whole bunch of videos.
Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) | the Internet Bird Collection

Interesting..they've been the subject of research going back to the 30's
http://www.jstor.org/pss/4079101

cool pic on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barloventomagico/2947788126/
I LOVE researching stuff!

 

[Missi]

You gals are simply the BEST! Thanks for all the links & ideas! I'm going to nose my way into some of it now!

 

[Missi]

Oh be still my beating heart! How gorgeous is this creature?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A bird perched and drinking | the Internet Bird Collection