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 .
it is a resident species throughout most of its range , from southern texas and central mexico through central america , to northern colombia and venezuela , and coastal ecuador and peru .
it only retreats from the northern limits of its range in texas and northern mexico during winter .
the groove-billed ani is about {convert|34|cm|in} long , and weighs {convert|70|-|90|g|oz} .
it is completely black , with a very long tail almost as long as its body .
it has a huge bill with horizontal grooves along the length of the upper mandible .
it is very similar to the smooth-billed ani , some of which have bills as small as the groove-billed and with grooves on the basal half .
the two species are best distinguished by voice and range .
in flight , the ani alternates between quick , choppy flaps and short glides .
like other anis , the groove-billed is found in open and partly open country , such as pastures , savanna , and orchards .
it feeds largely on a mixed diet of insects , seeds , and fruits .
the groove-billed ani lives in small groups of one to five breeding pairs .
they defend a single territory and lay their eggs in one communal nest .
all group members incubate the eggs and care for the young .
