The hoatzin is such a strange and unique bird that you almost have to see it to believe it. Fortunately, spotting a hoatzin is not difficult, as it is widespread in the lowlands of northern and central South America, and it is quite common throughout much of this region. Hoatzins live in trees and shrubs along the shores of lakes and slow-moving rivers. They often sit in groups in the open, although when disturbed, they typically retreat to denser vegetation. However, they move clumsily, so they give themselves away with sounds of crashing through the vegetation, accompanied by loud vocalizations.
Order: Opisthocomiformes | Family: Opisthocomidae
Scientific name: Opisthocomus hoazin
Common name: Pava hedionda, hoatzin
Conservation status: Least concern (LC)
Best season for hoatzin: All year round
Description
The hoatzin is a large and stocky bird, similar in many ways to guans and curassows (Cracidae), and also similar in shape and size to some turacos and touracos from Africa. Its most striking feature is the long, flexible feathers of its crest and the blue skin of its face.
Distribution
Endemic to the Americas, hoatzins are found in the lowlands of northern South America and throughout the Amazon. The hoatzin is typically found along riverine corridors in the basins of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. Additionally, it is found across the Colombian and Venezuelan plains.
Hábitat
Hoatzins are typically found in lowland tropical forests, generally along riverine corridors, where they nest in trees that protrude above the water. Hoatzins feed exclusively in trees and shrubs and require dense vegetation. In a study site in the Venezuelan plains, hoatzins were primarily found in dense gallery forests along rivers and streams that are interspersed among open palm savannas and patches of forest.
*Fuente: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.hoatzi1.01
