ani

In English, an *ani* is a tropical bird in the cuckoo family, found mainly in the Americas and the Caribbean. Anis are usually glossy black, long-tailed, and social, often seen in small groups around open fields, marshes, or farmland. If you've heard of the smooth-billed ani or the greater ani, those are specific species of this same kind of bird.

An *ani is a bird of the genus Crotophaga, a genus within the cuckoo family (Cuculidae*). The word usually refers to species such as the smooth-billed ani, groove-billed ani, and greater ani. These birds are recognized by their dark plumage, long tails, and heavy, curved bills.

Anis are known for social behavior: they often forage in groups, eating insects and small animals, and may share communal nests in some species. In birdwatching and zoological contexts, "ani" is therefore a concrete animal term, not an abstract concept.

Usage example: "We spotted a flock of anis perched on the fence line at dawn."