Hoatzin
NameHoatzin
Common NameHoatzin
Scientific NameOpisthocomus hoazin
FamilyOpisthocomidae
Wingspan (cm)70
Length (cm)62.5
Weight (g)750
Plumage DetailsHoatzins have a reddish-brown back and wings, a pale yellow or buff underside, and a dark, bare blue face with striking red eyes. A prominent, spiky rufous crest adorns its head, and its long tail is bronze-green with a broad buff tip.
Vocalization / CallKnown for a variety of harsh, guttural calls, grunts, hisses, and croaks, often described as sounding like a smoker's cough or wheezing.
Primary Dietfrugivore
Primary Habitatsriverine forest, swamp, wetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America, including countries such as Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Bolivia.
Identifying FeaturesSpiky rufous crest, Bare blue facial skin with red eyes, Long neck and small head, Chestnut-brown and buff plumage, Unique musky odor, Clumsy flight, often perching near water, Chicks possess claws on their wings for climbing
Description
The Hoatzin is a pheasant-sized tropical bird known for its unique digestive system, which allows it to digest leaves, giving it a distinctive musky odor. It is often found in groups, perching clumsily in trees overhanging water in its South American habitat.
