Hoatzin

Hoatzin (Opisthocomos hoatzin), bird that lives in the flooded forests bordering the rivers of northern South America. The adult, which is slightly larger than a pigeon, has a long crest and blue cheeks. It can barely fly, its flight muscles being small to make way for a large crop in which it stores its meals of leaves and fruit. The chicks have 2 movable claws on each wing that help them clamber through foliage. When alarmed, they jump into the water, swimming and even diving easily, then clamber back up the tree when danger has passed.