joshc conquests

Off topic, but did you know a small number of birds still have claws on their wings, left over from when their ancestors had grabby grabby hands!
The Hoatzin from South America is one of my favorite birds of all time. Still has little claws that are extremely useful especially as chicks. If a snake or avian predator makes it into the tree, the chicks can use their claws and large feet to climb the branches of the tree. The tree is usually near water, so in extreme situations, the chicks will dive off the tree and swim under the surface for a period of time to evade a predator. They'll then swim back and claw back up the tree. :)

It's also the only species of its kind in its own genus. They still look like their proper cousins. Very archaeopteryx-like. They also have red eyes, which is pretty darn cool. :D
 
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