A list of reasons why Hoatzins are my favourite birds on the planet:

1. They look like chickens that listened to too much Green Day.
2. They make a range of rather creepy noises, including hisses, groans, croaks and grunts.
3. They’re the only surviving species from an ancient order of birds known as Opisthocomiformes, which branched off from the rest of the birds shortly after the dinosaurs went extinct.
4. Baby Hoatzins dive into the water to escape predators, and then use specialised claws on their wings to climb back out of the water.
5. They have a unique, multichambered digestive system similar to that of a cow, which breaks down and ferments the leaves they eat.
6. As a consequence of their weird digestive system, they are constantly exuding an unpleasant, manure-like smell, and can take up to 48 hours to process a meal.
7. They largely avoid being eaten by predators simply because they taste bad.

Hoatzins are utterly ridiculous and I’m so grateful to get to see them every day here at Manu Biological Station.

–

Hoatzins (Opisthocomus hoazin), Manu Biological Station, Peru