How does care of young differ between the hoatzin and most galliform birds?

Most galliform birds produce young that are extremely precocious, meaning they are capable of walking and feeding themselves within a few hours of hatching. In contrast, hoatzin nestlings are hatched practically naked and are entirely dependent on their parents for food.1

Key differences in care include:

• Feeding: While most galliform chicks forage for themselves shortly after birth, adult hoatzins feed their young a leaf paste regurgitated from their crops.21
• Parental Involvement: Hoatzin parents—and sometimes older siblings—cooperate to raise the young. In many galliform species, parental care is limited, though males may assist in shepherding the young if a pair bond is formed.21
• Mobility and Safety: Young hoatzins remain in the nest for a long fledging period but possess functional claws on their wings, which they use to scramble through branches or climb back to the nest after dropping into the water to escape danger. Most other galliform chicks rely on their protective down and camouflage to survive in their environment until they reach independence.21