CUCKOOS AND ANIS   -   CUCULIDAE

Dwarf Cuckoo Coccycua pumila 20 km south of Calabozo, Guárico state, Venezuela. One of the more distinctive members of the genus, restricted to northern South America. East of the Andes it is found only in the llanos, but west of the Andes in Colombia it is found more widely, occurring in inter-Andean valleys as well as flat lowland areas.

Dwarf Cuckoo Coccycua pumila 20 km south of Calabozo, Guárico state, Venezuela. A different individual, possibly a young bird as it shows much thes rufous on the throat.

Ash-colored Cuckoo Coccycua cinerea Palomitas, Salta province, Argentina. This cuckoo is highly migratory. It breeds in the austral summer from southern Brazil to northern Argentina, then disperses northward as far as southern Colombia.

Greater Ani Crotophaga major Bruzual, Apure state, Venezuela. Well-named, this huge ani is locally abundant along rivers and lakes from Panama to northern Argentina. They are sometimes in shockingly big flocks of fifty or more birds.

Greater Ani Crotophaga major La Florida marsh, Bogotá, Colombia. This bird is mainly a lowland species, rarely found above 500 m elevation. Oddly, there is a small population in the high plains around Bogotá, Colombia. This bird was photographed near the international airport at 2600 m.

Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani Sacha Lodge, Orellana province, Ecuador. The most common and widespread ani in South America.

Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani Caiman Lodge, Mato Grosso de Sul state, Brazil. They roost communally, and sometimes you can find clumps of a dozen birds or more.

Guira Cuckoo Guira guira Caiman Lodge, Mato Grosso de Sul state, Brazil. A common and distinctive bird of open areas south of the Amazon basic. I've always wondered where the name "Guira" comes from. All I can find on google is a town in Cuba and a musical instrument from the Caribbean, neither of which makes sense for birds found in South America. If you can enlighten me on this, please send me an email!

Guira Cuckoo Guira guira Caiman Lodge, Mato Grosso de Sul state, Brazil. Like anis, Guira Cuckoos are very social and roost communally.

Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia excellens Rancho Naturalista, Cartago province, Costa Rica. While singing, Striped Cuckoos often flare their crests and alula feathers, as you can see here.		Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus erythropygus Northern Puntarenas province, Costa Rica. I don't remember the exact locality, but it was in dry woodland not far from the coast. Not a "true" ground-cuckoo as it is in a different genus and is not a bird of rainforest. Still, it's a unique, monotypic species, and always great to see.

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