Other Birds

While the Amazon is home to countless bird species, a few stand out for their unique traits. Today, I’m highlighting two such birds: the hoatzin and the hummingbird.

Hoatzin

The hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) is perhaps one of the most unusual birds in the Amazon. It feeds almost exclusively on leaves, making it the only bird with such a folivorous diet (San Francisco Zoo). This remarkable ability is due to its enlarged crop, which ferments the ingested vegetation similar to the digestive process in cow sand produces a distinctive, manure-like odor that the bird is known for. Adding to its uniqueness, hoatzin chicks have claws on their wings, a trait reminiscent of ancient birds like Archaeopteryx (San Francisco Zoo).

Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are among the most iconic residents of the Amazon, with around 350 species found worldwide (Coppard, 2021). While the exact number of species in the Amazon is unclear, these tiny birds play a crucial role in pollinating many plant species in the region (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 2009). Their effectiveness as pollinators is due to several factors: they can see the color red, unlike many insects are more tolerant of the cooler temperatures found in cloud forests, have long beaks that reach into tubular flowers, and possess precise flying abilities that allow them to access even the most challenging blooms.

References:

Hoatzin San Francisco Zoo

https://www.sfzoo.org/hoatzin/#:~:text=They%20exclusively%20eat%20swamp%20plants,odor%20similar%20to%20cow%20manure.

Coppard, Sam. (July 15, 2021) Hummingbird guide: species facts and where to see BBC Wildlife Magazine

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/facts-about-hummingbirds

(November 14, 2009) Flower Specialist Ruby Throated Hummingbird Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute