Found in the Clutter – Ani

I came across this while rummaging through folders from a Texas trip. The Groove-billed Ani is a member of the cuckoo family. It’s all black and a bit scruffy looking and has a large bill with grooves, hence the name. It is a ground forager and moves around a little erratically in the undergrowth. That’s a hunting technique that flushes the insects and small lizards that it preys on. It is a resident of Mexico, Central America and the northern tip of South America. The range extends into southern Texas. This one was photographed at Estero Llano Grande State Park (Llano Grande, Texas) in February 2019.