The hoatzin or hoactzin is a species of tropical bird found in swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves of the Amazon and the Orinoco basins in South America. It is the only extant species in the genus Opisthocomus which is the only extant genus in the Opisthocomidae family under the order of Opisthocomiformes. Despite being the subject of intense debate by specialists, the taxonomic position of this family is still far from clear.
Region
Amazon and Orinoco Basins
Typical Environment
Hoatzins inhabit seasonally flooded forests, swamps, oxbow lakes, and mangroves along slow-moving rivers and backwaters. They are closely tied to dense riparian vegetation, especially stands of floating or overhanging shrubs and trees. Nests are built over water in tangled branches, providing both access to food and escape routes for chicks. They prefer quiet backwaters rather than main river channels and are rarely found far from water.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The hoatzin is the only living member of its family and order, with a still-debated evolutionary placement. It is a folivore that ferments leaves in an enlarged crop, producing a barnyard-like odor—hence the nickname 'stinkbird.' Chicks hatch with clawed wings that help them climb through vegetation and even drop into water to escape predators. Adults are weak fliers but adept climbers and perchers in dense riverside thickets.
![The newly hatched bird has claws on its thumb and first finger, enabling it to dexterously climb tree branches until its wings are strong enough for sustained flight.[16] These claws disappear by the time the bird reaches adulthood.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Hoatzin_chick.jpg/640px-Hoatzin_chick.jpg)
The newly hatched bird has claws on its thumb and first finger, enabling it to dexterously climb tree branches until its wings are strong enough for sustained flight.[16] These claws disappear by the time the bird reaches adulthood.
In flight, Bolivia
Temperament
social and noisy
Flight Pattern
short, labored flights with rapid wingbeats and brief glides
Social Behavior
Hoatzins are highly social, living in small to medium groups along waterways. They often engage in cooperative breeding, with helpers assisting a dominant pair. Nests are platform-like structures built over water, and chicks can climb skillfully using temporary wing claws.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Their vocalizations are a mix of croaks, wheezes, grunts, and hisses, often given in chorus by groups. Wingbeats can be loud and clattering during short flights, adding to the commotion.
