Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
Hoatzin

Hoatzin

Opisthocomus hoazin

The hoatzin, a bird of tropical South America, is a creature of striking peculiarity. With a total length of 65 cm, it is roughly the size of a pheasant, sporting a long neck and a small head. Its appearance is distinguished by an unfeathered blue face with maroon eyes, crowned by a spiky rufous crest. The plumage is predominantly dark, with sooty-brown tail feathers that gleam with a bronze-green hue, ending in a broad, pale band.

Identification Tips

When identifying the hoatzin, look for its distinctive blue face and rufous crest. The bird's upper parts are edged with buff, particularly on the wing coverts, while the underparts are a lighter buff color. The crissum, primaries, underwing coverts, and flanks exhibit a rich rufous-chestnut, which becomes apparent as the bird spreads its wings.

Habitat

The hoatzin is found in the swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves that line the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.

Distribution

This species is endemic to South America, with its range encompassing the Amazon and Orinoco basins.

Behaviour

The hoatzin is known for its noisy demeanor, emitting a variety of hoarse sounds including groans, croaks, hisses, and grunts. These vocalizations are often accompanied by expressive body movements, such as wing spreading.

Song & Calls

The hoatzin's calls are a cacophony of hoarse noises, ranging from groans and croaks to hisses and grunts, which resonate through its marshy habitat.

Breeding

Hoatzins breed seasonally, with their reproductive timing aligned with the rainy season. They are sociable birds, nesting in small colonies. Their nests are constructed from sticks and are typically positioned over water in seasonally flooded forests. The chicks are reared on a diet of regurgitated, fermented vegetation.

Similar Species

There are no similar species to the hoatzin, as it is the sole extant species in its genus and family.

Diet and Feeding

The hoatzin is a folivore, primarily consuming leaves, as well as fruits and flowers on occasion. Its diet includes the foliage of over 50 plant species. The bird's unique digestive system, akin to that of ruminant mammals, allows it to ferment plant material, aiding in digestion.

Conservation status

The hoatzin is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, its population may be declining due to habitat loss caused by deforestation in the Amazon.

The hoatzin, a bird as enigmatic as it is distinctive, continues to thrive in the lush waterways of South America, a living testament to the evolutionary tapestry of avian life.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Hoatzin Fun Facts

Did you know?
The Hoatzin is the national bird of Guyana

Hoatzins on Birda

Sightings
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Anonymous
The best bird logging app
Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.