Length: 13 inches | Wingspan: 17 inches | Seasonality: Non-resident in South Dakota |
ID Keys: All black, massive bill, shaggy-looking plumage |
The
Smooth-billed Ani is a relatively newcomer to the United States, with the
first birds appearing in Florida in the late 1800s. They evidently
naturally expanded from Caribbean populations, and populations increased in
Florida until about the 1970s. Since then, U.S. populations have been
in decline, and they are now a rare resident in much of Florida.
Populations are widespread in the American tropics, however, with strong
populations in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Click below for a higher-resolution map |
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South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota |