The hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), also known as the stinkbird, or Canje pheasant, is a species of tropical bird found in swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves of the Amazon and the Orinoco Delta in South America. It is notable for having chicks that possess claws on two of their wing digits. It is the only member of the genus Opisthocomus (Ancient Greek: "wearing long hair behind", referring to its large crest) which in turn is the only extant genus in the family Opisthocomidae. The taxonomic position of this family has been greatly debated, and is still far from clear. The Hoatzin can be found only in South America, ranging from Guyana and Ecuador, to Brazil, Bolivia and Orinoco, near the oxbow lakes in the Amazon jungle. It lives in terrestrial
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Average lifespan of the hoatzin is 15 years in the wild and up to 30 years in captivity. The alternative name of "stinkbird" is derived from the bird's foul odor, which is caused by the fermentation of food in its digestive system. It’s at the top of the food web because it doesn’t have many predators including humans not only due to its foul smell but also horrible taste. Hoatzin is vulnerable to nest predation. Eggs and chicks are preyed upon by monkeys, tayras and other mammals, but also by avian predators such as falcons, hawks and eagles. Awkward and unconventional though their lifestyle is, the hoatzin is nonetheless a very successful bird. Leaves, while notoriously difficult to digest, are plentiful and available all year round. And the fact that they smell quite bad also works in their favor, since this makes their flesh unpalatable and keeps them mostly out of the food chain. Even humans don’t like the
Average lifespan of the hoatzin is 15 years in the wild and up to 30 years in captivity. The alternative name of "stinkbird" is derived from the bird's foul odor, which is caused by the fermentation of food in its digestive system. It’s at the top of the food web because it doesn’t have many predators including humans not only due to its foul smell but also horrible taste. Hoatzin is vulnerable to nest predation. Eggs and chicks are preyed upon by monkeys, tayras and other mammals, but also by avian predators such as falcons, hawks and eagles. Awkward and unconventional though their lifestyle is, the hoatzin is nonetheless a very successful bird. Leaves, while notoriously difficult to digest, are plentiful and available all year round. And the fact that they smell quite bad also works in their favor, since this makes their flesh unpalatable and keeps them mostly out of the food chain. Even humans don’t like the