28 January 2013. Huatulco Mexico. Just a year ago we were in Mexico checking out traditional methods of weaving and dyeing. The memory of that trip still burns strongly, even more so over this past couple of weeks with the contrasts in mobility, weather and colour so vivid. Our final two or three days were spent in the Pacific coastal town of Huatulco where one of life’s pleasures for everyone is to congregate in the town square, the zocalo, and just people-watch. I always added bird-watch to the agenda because the large shade trees were lively with vocal Great Kiskadees, Yellow-winged Caiques (cah-hee-KAYs), Great-tailed Grackles and Tropical Kingbirds.
On one of those sit-and-watch days, binoculars and camera always close at hand, a black bird settled on the shrubbery opposite where we sat, my first impression was of yet another a grackle but on second look I realized in astonishment that it was a Groove-billed Ani. I’d never seen one before, but how could I mistake it? There are three Ani species: Greater, Smooth-billed and Groove-billed. Click on the picture below and take a closer look, this could only be a Groove-billed; to me anyway.
Wikipedia nails it with this brief description. “The Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) is an odd-looking tropical bird in the cuckoo family with a long tail and a large, curved beak.” The Cuckoo family again! There always seems to be something just a little odd about them. The Lesser Ground Cuckoo, seen just ten days prior, the Roadrunner, and Eurasia’s Common Cuckoo, an obligate nest parasite, all of them just a little off centre in one way or another. And now here’s the Groove-billed Ani to confirm and add to the familial eccentricities. I was thrilled to see this bird, certainly a Wow! moment. I’d only ever seen illustrations of them before and wonder what possible purpose that oversized, striated bill serves.
A little later I spotted a pair of them. My attention was caught by the odd posture of one scuttling and scratching around beneath a row of shrubs, it’s that curious looking pose in the photo below. It turned out to be a courtship strategy, moments later the object of its desires obviously tempted, appeared for a moment of copulation. Birding is full of such surprises.
This post contains photos in galleries visible only on the website, not if you’re reading this as an email.