Habitat
Although it is sometimes possible to find Hoatzins in places that are 500m above the sea level, most of these birds will be found living in low altitude areas which are between 5 and 200 above the sea level. This is because these birds completely depend on the riparian vegetation that forms most vegetation in these lowland areas.

These birds are totally not concerned about the type of aquatic environment that they are in, be it salty, fresh or brackish. This is probably because the aquatic environment does not play a single role in making their food as they live their entire lives in trees, bushes and vines. Their favorite food would be the giant arums, more specifically those that belong to the genus Montrichardia.

Unlike many organisms which peg the selection of their habitat on the existence of food, the Hoatzins give more weight to the presence of dense fluvial vegetation, preferably adjacent to a sluggish river, ox-bow Lake, streams, lagoons or swamps. The thorny vegetation that is prevalent in these habitats provides the birds with virtually all the necessities of life. The birds are not only assured of food but also the nesting and roosting places. The fact that they tend to strictly adhere to one specific environment is perhaps due to lack of physical limitations.

General habits
The birds’ propensity to rely on vegetarian diet and their consequent ruminant tendencies may have been responsible for the restriction of Hoatzins to dense trees, bushes and vines that border the waterways of Neotropical lowlands. This led to the modification of certain anatomical features so as to allow for the bulky foregut, consequently slowing down the process of digestion.

The sociability of Hoatzins is high the whole of the year and have often been seen in groups of more than 40 birds. Two birds can also be seen romantically perched and in body contact with one another. During the time for breeding, the birds are seen occupying exclusive areas but in non-breeding season, they live in companies of over 100 birds

Contrary to past reports by authors that held that Hoatzins were colonial, there are evidence based on long-term studies that when they are breeding, they tend to maintain exclusive yet exceedingly small territories.

Hoatzins bathe in the rain while perching in trees and at the same time spreading their wings. To sunbathe, they climb to the perches that are exposed to and then turn their backs in the direction of the sun.

The most sociable types of hoatzins can be seen living and breeding in groups consisting of between 2 to 8 members. However, the most common number is two and it is rare to come across members exceeding 5. In the extra birds are found adults and sub-adult helpers and studies have established that most of the helpers are actually family members from the erstwhile nestlings of the pairs they are helping.

Sometimes there are immigrant helpers in the camp but their help is very little and cannot be compared to that of the biological helpers.