This is a bird that is unique in several different ways. Partly, it has a strange bill. It is tall and looks compressed. The bill is just about the same length as the rest of the head. The whole bird is black and has an unusually long tail and a flimsy flight. It is also one of the few birds in South America that has not gotten a European name, but an Amerindian. "Ani" comes from 'anim' in the Tupi language, which is said to mean 'social bird'. The latter is a compelling description because thois species breeds in groups. Several females lay their eggs in the same nest and then take turns brooding! One nest was found to contain 29 eggs, but usually only 10 or so hatch.