Black witches of the savannas in appearance but without the hermit instinct of the true witch, Anis are always in flocks and they have a strange habit of "dribbling" thru the forest instead of moving as a unit. One bird flies ahead, alights, then the others follow but with intervals between. Reunited on a limb they peer around for food or at anything unusual in the woods. The outlook is discussed with voices as uncouth as the birds; then off they go, awkward and uncertain, with head, wings and tail making unnatural angles and flopping like animated scarecrows.
They perform a real service to cattle and other animals by destroying annoying parasites. The tortured animals welcome their advent and will sometimes lie down to give the Anis a better chance at the pests.
NEST: a bulky affair of twigs, sticks, roots and green leaves. Often a community house where fresh eggs to nearly fledged birds are together. Housekeeping is apparently a hit-or-miss affair.
EGGS: normally, 3 to 5; Pale blue.
Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Casual to southern Arizona and Gulf States.
A slender shrub-like tree, about 20 feet high, found on the Florida coast to southern keys.