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Stink Turkeys
Opisthocomus hoazin
-0.655508, -77.1241
Field Notes
Description:
The Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), also known as the Hoactzin, Stink Turkey, Stinkbird, or Canje Pheasant.
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 alternative name of "stinkbird" is derived from the bird's manure-like odour, caused by its digestive system.[citation needed] The Hoatzin is herbivorous, eating leaves and fruit, and has an unusual digestive system with an enlarged crop used for fermentation of vegetable matter, in a manner broadly analogous to the digestive system of mammalian ruminants.
This is a noisy species, with a variety of hoarse calls, including groans, croaks, hisses and grunts. These calls are often associated with body movements, such as wing spreading
Habitat:
It is a species of tropical bird found in swamps, riverine forest and mangrove 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.
Notes:
Very cool looking bird. The local guide said they are in abundance because they have few to no predators because of the foul smell they give off and their flesh is unappealing to every other creature.
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