Hoatzin

Hoatzin

Opisthocomus hoazin

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Yasuní National Park
1,588 Verified records at Yasuní National Park
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Hoatzin sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 1,588 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

50–60
Jan
40–50
Feb
40–50
Mar
40–50
Apr
30–40
May
40–50
Jun
40–50
Jul
50–60
Aug
60–70
Sep
50–60
Oct
50–60
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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
60–70%
2 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
40–50%
3 Noel Kempff Mercado National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
30–40%
4 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
20–30%
5 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
20–30%
6 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
20–30%
7 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
20–30%
8 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
10–20%
9 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
5–10%
10 Amboró National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
<5%
11 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Hoatzin in Yasuní National Park?

About 48% of wildlife watchers report a Hoatzin sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 1,588 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Hoatzin in Yasuní National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Hoatzin in Yasuní National Park in our monthly data.

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