Hoatzin

Only living representative of this order is the hoatzin, found only deep in the Amazon!

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This order has only one living species of bird – the hoatzin. The hoatzin can be found in and around Southern America’s Orinoco and Amazon River basins. Some other common names for this bird are stinkbird, skunk bird, or reptile bird.

A small head, a long neck, and a long tail characterize hoatzins. They have long eyelashes, red irises, and bare, bright blue faces. The young ones possess two claws on each wing that are shed as they grow up.

A very peculiar characteristic of this bird is that it is the only bird that ferments vegetation in its stomach, similar to how a cow does! This lets them feed on leaves and buds. They are folivores – herbivores that specialize in eating leaves.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Bolivia
2016
Brazil
2016
Colombia
2016
Ecuador
2016
French Guiana
2016
Guyana
2016
Peru
2016
Suriname
2016
Venezuela
2016

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Colony

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No

Hoatzin on banknotes

Guyana 5,000 Dollars Banknote (2013)