CROTOPHAGIDAE

The 'anis' ('Crotophagidae') are a small family of gregarious birds occurring in the new world. They are part of the cuckoo order Cuculiformes and sometimes placed as a subfamily 'Crotophaginae' within the cuckoo family Cuculidae.
Among the anis, there is considerable variation in nesting habits. One species, The greater ani ''C. major'' lays 2 or 3 eggs, while the groove-billed ani ''C. sulcirostris'' lays seven. However the smooth-billed ani ''C. ani'' will share one nest between several females, with up to 29 eggs in one nest! Incubation takes 15 days for this species. The nesting habits of the guira cuckoo are unknown.

Contents

Systematics

Systematics

Genus ''Guira'':

★ Guira Cuckoo, ''Guira guira''
Genus ''Crotophaga'':

★ Greater Ani, ''Crotophaga major''

★ Smooth-billed Ani, ''Crotophaga ani''

★ Groove-billed Ani, ''Crotophaga sulcirostris''

★
★ Cabo San Lucas Groove-billed Ani, ''Crotophaga sulcirostris pallidula'' - probably invalid; extinct (c.1940)