I don’t know where I stumbled onto the Hoatzin, but it looked and sounded interesting enough to make a post. This is a bird found in the Amazon and is the only member of the order of Opisthocomiformes. That means it’s the only surviving species of an avian evolution broup, which appears to have branched off from other birds around 64 million years ago. They have no close relatives and there isn’t enough fossil data to figure out exactly where these guys fall in the evolutionary path.
Hoatzins aren’t good fliers and tend to jump through the canopy when they need to move around. Unlike other birds, their sternum and flight muscles are underdeveloped. They don’t survive in captivity, so the wild is the only place to find them. As interesting as that is, there are really two big things about these birds aside from their mysterious evolutionary path.
First, they don’t digest food like other birds and are considered ruminators. That means, they digest food using bacterial fermentation, which is similar to cows and sheep. Instead of having a sack called a rumen, the Hoatzin has an bigger esophagus and crop. These foregut areas are where the leaves are broken down, which can take 45 hours and is why they are usually just sitting around. The fermentation also creates foul-smelling vapor, which is why they are also called stinkbirds. Due to the process, their meat tastes terrible, which is why they aren’t hunted.
The second interesting aspect deals with their babies having two claws on each wing. This reminds many people of the ‘first bird’ Archeopteryx. Hoatzin nests are made over the water and the babies have these claws for 3 months. They will drop into the water if a predator approaches and swim away to hide. Once the coast is clear, they will use the claws to climb up the tree and return to the nest. This usage is what makes them unique because they aren’t vestigial like in other species.
So, what does the Hoatzin look like?
Legends of Windemere 
A very striking bird, Charles, which has evolved several traits that help it survive. Fascinating!
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Definitely a curious and unique creature.
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What a strange bird. And how strange that it’s a ruminant!
i think they do, in fact, look a bit like the archaeopteryx pictures I’ve seen, so maybe they are direct descendants. But if better scientists don’t know, who am I to suggest it?
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The issue is really that archaeopteryx isn’t actually the ancestor of birds. The birds we have today evolved along a different branch, so they’d be considered distant cousins at best. I guess ‘first bird’ title isn’t about genetics, but physical form. Makes it weird that archaeopteryx isn’t part of the bird lineage.
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A stylish critter, with the red and black wings, and such a dashing feathered crest.
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They should go into modeling.
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As soon as I see one of your animal posts I know I have to read it to se if you have found a creature even stranger then the last one! Well done, certainly not hear of the Hoatzin. Babies only a parent could love that turns into a beautiful adult.
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A real ugly duckling species, I guess.
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Absolutely gorgeous!
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Agreed.
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