Page 136 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

136 ATLAS OF THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANIMALS

With a dramatic, electric blue face, spiky head crest and back to the nest once danger has passed.While their chicks
trailing tail, hoatzins make a colourful addition to South are initially fed regurgitated food, pre-digested by the adult
America’s tropical marshlands.These unusual birds make to make it easier to swallow, adults themselves enjoy the
their homes in flooded forests along the banks of the rich pickings that life in a river delta offers.They are
Amazon and Orinoco river systems. It’s a rich but known to eat at least 50 different species of plant and
challenging environment for any species to survive in but, include fruit and flowers as well as leaves in their diet.
over many millennia, these birds have adapted to make the These marshland marvels are poor fliers, with ‘reduced’
best of life in and around these great wetlands. wings, but have become adept at clambering through the
Hoatzins breed when the river is at its height and food is foliage where young green leaves sprout.To help them
plentiful, during the rainy season.Then, they build a stick scramble about on branches, they have a leathery bump on
nest on branches overhanging the flooded river banks.This the bottom of their crop, which aids balance.Their long,
means, if trouble strikes, chicks are able to head straight for showy tail adds much-needed stability. Such specialization
water.They’re excellent swimmers and come equipped has its drawbacks, though. It limits the hoatzins’ range and,
with wing claws, which make it easier for them to climb like many Amazonian species, these characterful birds are

An adventurous hoatzin chick sets out to explore, using its Spotting danger ahead, the alarmed chick releases its grip and
unique wing claws to keep a firm grip on vegetation. quickly drops down to the safety of the river below.

Using its feet and wings to paddle through the water, Keeping a wary watch for predators, the chick emerges from
the hoatzin escapes. Hopefully the snake won’t follow! the water. If all’s clear, he’ll clamber back to the nest.

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.