The Stinky Dinosaur Bird: The Hoatzin 🐦🦖

🐦 Hey there guys! It’s Cataleya here!

Today we are going to learn about a bird that is so strange it feels like a dinosaur… the Hoatzin! 🦖🐦

Here are 5 facts about this dino-like bird:

1. 🦴 The babies have claws!

Hoatzin chicks are born with claws on their wings!

If they are threatened or fall out of their waterside nest, they can:

• drop into the water 💧

• swim to safety

• and use their wing claws to climb back into the trees 🌿

They lose these claws as they grow into adults.

2. 💨 They actually smell bad

Hoatzins often smell like fresh cow manure 🤢

Because of their special diet, they ferment food in their stomachs, which causes the strong smell. Most predators avoid them because of it!

3. 🪽 They are weak flyers

Hoatzins can fly, but not very well. Their bodies are built more for climbing than flying, so they usually stay in trees.

4. 🌿 They eat mostly leaves

About 90% of their diet is leaves!This is very unusual for birds.

5. 🐣 Chicks are climbers

Even as babies, Hoatzin chicks are already amazing climbers thanks to their wing claws.

⭐ Final Thoughts

I think Hoatzins are so cool! If I ever see one, I’m definitely going to say:“It’s a dino! 😄”