Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Cuckoos & Turacos

Greater Ani

Crotophaga major

Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Central America & Caribbean.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Brazil Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of Peru

By family

Cuckoos of Argentina Cuckoos of Brazil Cuckoos of Colombia Cuckoos of Costa Rica Cuckoos of Ecuador Cuckoos of Peru

See what's near you right now

The Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 148 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
Genus Crotophaga
Species major

Where it lives

Eastern Panama to northern Argentina

Quick facts

Weight: 148 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Cuculidae
Order: Cuculiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Endangered

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

Phaenicophaeus curvirostris

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Greater Ani is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Greater Ani is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA e Panama to n Argentina.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 148 g, with a wing length of about 19.4 cm and a tail of around 25.2 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 12.1 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Greater Ani — Call, duet, song

Recorded by Odirlei Vieira da Fonseca Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Greater Ani?

The Greater Ani is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 148 g.

Where does the Greater Ani live?

The Greater Ani is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA e Panama to n Argentina, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Greater Ani belong to?

The Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.

What does the Greater Ani eat?

The Greater Ani is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Greater Ani migrate?

The Greater Ani is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Greater Ani endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Greater Ani make?

1 real field recording of the Greater Ani — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Greater Ani's range?

The Greater Ani has a mapped global range of about 12.1 million km².