Hoatzin
Opisthocomus hoazin
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderOpisthocomiformes (Hoatzins)
- FamilyOpisthocomidae (Hoatzins)
- GenusOpisthocomus (Hoatzins)
- SpeciesOpisthocomus hoazin (Hoatzin)
The hoatzin ( WAHT-sin, -seen; also HO-tsin and hoh-AT-sin) (Opisthocomus hoazin) is a species of tropical bird found in swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves of the Amazon and Orinoco Basins in South America. It is the only extant species in the genus Opisthocomus which is the only extant genus in the family Opisthocomidae under the order Opisthocomiformes. Despite being the subject of intense debate by specialists, the taxonomic position of this family is still far from clear. The hoatzin is notable for its chicks having primitive claws on two of their wing digits. It is unique among birds in possessing a digestive system that significantly supports the fermentation and the effective breakdown of plant matter, a trait more commonly known from herbivorous ungulate-ruminant mammals and some primates. This bird is also the national bird of Guyana, where the local name for this bird is Canje pheasant. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Hoatzin sighting in Cordillera Azul National Park, based on 280 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Noel Kempff Mercado National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 4 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 5 | Cordillera Azul National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 6 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 7 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 8 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 9 | Madidi National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 10 | Amboró National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 11 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Hoatzin in Cordillera Azul National Park?
About 22% of wildlife watchers report a Hoatzin sighting in Cordillera Azul National Park, based on 280 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Hoatzin in Cordillera Azul National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Hoatzin in Cordillera Azul National Park in our monthly data.