Hoatzin
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/52346729@N04">Alejandro Bayer Tamayo</a> from Armenia, Colombia (CC BY-SA 2.0)
NameHoatzin
Common NameHoatzin
Scientific NameOpisthocomus hoazin
FamilyOpisthocomidae
Wingspan (cm)67.5
Length (cm)62.5
Weight (g)750
Plumage DetailsThe plumage is predominantly dark brown on the back and wings, often with white streaking on the wing coverts. The underparts are a rufous-chestnut color, and the long tail features a broad buffy-orange tip. The head is adorned with a prominent, spiky rufous crest, and the face has bare, bright blue skin around the red eyes.
Vocalization / CallHoatzins produce a variety of raucous, croaking, hissing, and grunting calls. They are generally noisy birds, especially when communicating within their social groups or when disturbed.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsswamp forest, riparian forest, mangrove
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America, its range extends from Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia and central Brazil, typically inhabiting areas along slow-moving rivers, oxbow lakes, and swamps.
Identifying Featuresspiky rufous crest, bare blue facial skin, red eyes, long tail with buffy tip, unique foregut fermentation (stinkbird), claws on chick wings
Description
The Hoatzin is a unique, pheasant-like bird characterized by its prominent spiky crest, bare blue facial skin, and striking red eyes. It is notable for its specialized herbivorous diet, digesting leaves through bacterial fermentation in an enlarged crop, which gives it a distinctive musky odor.
