image courtesy: Hermes Justiniano
Common name: Hoatzin
Scientific name: Opisthocomus hoazin
Size: 24 inches in length
The Hoatzin is a species of bird found only in the Amazon Rainforest Region. It's peculiar name comes from Nahuatl Indian
origin.It has a long, loose crest of rather stiff shafted feathers. It's voice is restricted to a limited harsh screeching and a
monotonous throaty chattering. The Hoatzin only lives in the thickly forested banks of South American lakes and rivers in small
colonies of 10 to 50 birds.
They build a platform of sticks as a nest about 5 to 20 feet above water and lay 2 to 3 brown spotted white eggs. Incubation
takes 28 days. Hatchlings hatch with well two well developed functional claws at the tip of each wing but are lost 2 to 3 weeks
after hatching. Hatchlings are also excellent swimmers.
Hoatzins also have a peculiar body odor which is so strong that British residents in Guyana call them stink birds. Hoatzins also
have an immense, well-developed, heavily muscled two part crop which seems to work as a gizzard. The crop is both used for
storage and for starting digestion of the rubbery leaves of the arum plant which is the Hoatzin's main food. The crop is so
enormous that it has displaced the shoulder girdle, sternum, and has greatly reduced the size of the flight muscles. This bird has
difficulty flying and can barely glide from branch to branch. The Hoatzin has to many unique features that it has been placed in
its own ordinal rank by itself. This species of bird is highly specialized. Fortunately this bird is not considered endangered by
C.I.T.E.S.