The Opisthocomus hoazin (scientific name) or hoatzin is found in swamps and mangroves of the Amazon and the Orinoco Delta, South America. 26 inches in length, the hoatzin has a long neck and small head. The upperparts are dark sooty-brown, wings chestnut-coloured, and underparts are buff. The neck and mantle are brown with buff streaks. It has a bald blue head with maroon eyes and a spiky crest on its head. Its diet is comprised of fruits and leaves. It is known as the stinkbird because of its unique digestive system which ferments the food eaten, giving off a manure-like odour. Nests are built over the water comprising of 2-3 eggs, incubated by both adults for 28-32 days. Its IUCN listing is the LEAST CONCERN.
Hoatzin
