Ambling along the brushy fence line and in along the low oak limbs. Tumbling through the humid morning air and buoyantly landing by a small pond that is nestled next to a cloud like stand of ceniza. A family of Groove-billed Anis with their watery whistles, squeaks, squawks, and cuckoo calls announce their intriguing and almost comedic dance of an arrival for a drink while the water is still cool from night.

A member of the Cuckoo family, and sometimes resembling marionette puppets as if all their moving parts are held up by string. Slightly uncoordinated especially their long floppy tail. Wagging and flipping about as if to balance the floating body on top of gangly legs. X marks the spot where their zygodactyl toes bounce along the ground more like walking on a trampoline. Let’s not forget that Jimmy Durante esque bill. A curved large grooved upper mandible leaves you wondering if there is some advantage of this seemingly clumsy looking facial feature. Like their cousin the roadrunner, there are no feathers around the eye. This description may not sound like it, but I think these birds are rather handsome, even pretty.

Just look at that proud smile. Who couldn’t love that face!

Being good opportunistic omnivores Groove-billed Ani have commensalistic relationships to large mammals such as deer, or grazing cattle by picking off ticks and other parasitic insects for a snack. Sometimes following along like the cattle egret to take advantage of any insects that get stirred up by trodding hooves. They have also been known to eat seeds, grains, fruits and berries, lizards, and other small vertebrates.

Living in tight knit groups of around 4 to 6 individuals. They are communal nesters. Both sexes look alike, both take part in nest building, incubating eggs, feeding and caring for young. Each member of this family group made up of monogamous pairs will take turns as a sentinel guarding from predators, and sounding the alarm if a threat to the community is near. This type of living situation allows for a larger territory, and higher success rate for raising young. Also, possibly adding to their lifespan as the community cares and watches out for one another.

Folklore and symbolism of the Groove-billed Ani says they are a sign of cooperation, self reflection, embracing the unknown, family bonding, communication, and a strong sense of community.

I’d say to see a Groove-billed Ani in the wild would be a Good Omen indeed!