Hoatzin photo

Hoatzin

Opisthocomus hoazin

Least Concern

The Hoatzin is one of the weirdest birds on Earth! It's nicknamed the 'stinkbird' because it smells like fresh cow manure - due to its unique way of digesting leaves, like a cow! It's the only bird that digests food in its crop.

Baby hoatzins have actual claws on their wings (like dinosaurs did!) that they use to climb. If a predator threatens the nest, chicks jump into the water and swim, then climb back up using their claws!

Size

About the size of a chicken

Medium (25-40 cm)

Wingspan: 65 cm

Weight: 850 g

Colors

brown
blue
red

Habitat

wetlandforest

Diet

seeds

Fun Facts

  • They're called 'stinkbirds' because they smell like manure!
  • Hoatzin chicks have claws on their wings like dinosaurs did!
  • Chicks can swim and dive to escape predators.
  • They're the only bird that digests food like a cow!

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Great news! This bird is doing well. There are lots of them in the wild, and they have safe places to live and find food.

Population trend: decreasing 📉