Identification
Overall black with a faint bluish iridescence on neck, wings and tail, and a strong, vaguely parrot-like bill.
Tail is long and rounded, and the flight looks weak with rapid wing-beats alternating with glides.
Similar Species
Easily mistaken for the Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) in the area of overlap. The Smooth-billed is slightly larger and its bill has a more arched culmen (esp. noticeable at basal part of culmen, where downward curve towards forehead is stronger than in Groove-billed) and no grooves in the upper mandible. They can also be separated by the voice.
Confusion also possible with the Greater Ani, which is larger, longer-tailed, longer-billed, has a more iridescent plumage and yellow eyes (careful; juv. Greater Ani with reduced iridescence and dark eyes similar to those of the Smooth-billed).
