Hoatzins are one of the strangest and most amazing birds on Earth. This is because animals emit an unpleasant odor, and claws grow on the wings of chicks. This type of flying bird is not at all attractive to hunters, since hoatzin meat is not at all tasty. The tropical unique inhabits South America, the northern part of the Amazon, as well as in Brazil and Peru. Favorite places of hoatzins are gallery forests located at an altitude of up to 500 m above sea level.
Description
The foul-smelling bird has bright and colorful plumage. Narrow, pointed and long feathers grow on the neck. The tail of the animal is rounded. The eyes of the hoatzins are red, the beak is dark gray or blackish. A feature of the animals is a well-developed muscular tongue, which makes it easy to move bird food in the beak.
Hoatzins grow up to 60 cm in length, they all vary from 700 to 900 g. At the back of the head is a characteristic crest with yellow borders. The birds have a blue head and a light brown or reddish breast. It has been established that an adult is not able to fly more than 400 meters.
Animal behavior and diet
Hoatzins are quite sociable birds. They like to gather in groups of 10 to 100 individuals. Almost all the time that animals are awake, they spend sitting in trees or walking around them. During the day, hoatzins stop moving altogether; birds prefer to bask in the sun with spread wings.
Hoatzins are not the best fliers, however, the birds are excellent swimmers and even dive. While walking, individuals help themselves with wings, leaning on them. The younger generation actively takes care of babies.
The diet of hoatzins consists mostly of leaves. Birds can also feed on fruits and open buds. Tropical animals can even feast on some types of poisonous plants. Hoatzins take 24 to 48 hours to digest food.
reproduction
Already at the age of one year, hoatzins begin puberty. During the rainy season, birds begin to mate. During the mating season, all adults are divided into pairs and build nests on trees whose branches hang over the water. The female can lay 2 to 3 light-colored eggs that show pink or brown spots. Within a month, both parents take turns incubating the chicks. Babies appear completely naked. As the plumage grows, the claws appear in the chicks, which disappear by the 70-100th day of life. If there is a threat of danger, then the kids jump into the water.
