Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
Photo: Philina English
Canadian Geographic has put together a map showing some national birds from around the world. A surprising number of countries, including Canada, don't have officially recognized national birds, but are in the process of selecting one. Unfortunately, the map doesn't stick to the conventional names that most of us are used to. It has the United States' bird labelled as American bald eagle, which isn't a real species name; simply, Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is correct. Most birders will know Cuba's national bird, not as the tocororo, but as the Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus), but only the former name is given. And there are no scientific names with which to cross-reference the other obscure local or colloquial names like cahow (Bermuda Petrel [Pterodroma cahow]) or Canje pheasant (Hoatzin [Opisthocomus hoazin]). It's an interesting map, nonetheless.
