Species profile

Name: Cock-of-the-rocks are birds belonging to the genus Rupicola. There are two  distinct species – the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), and the smaller Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola).

Appearance: male cock-of-the-rocks are striking birds due to their bright orange and red colours and their unusual fan-shaped crests. The females are typically brown.

Size: the Andean cock-of-the-rock measures around 32 cm long and weighs around 265 g, while the Guianan species reaches 30 cm and weighs 200-220 g.

Diet: their diet consists mostly of fruits and insects although small reptiles and frogs are sometimes eaten.

Did you know: cock-of-the-rocks have a complex courtship behaviour and perform elaborate dances to attract females. The females build nests on rocky cliffs or large boulders and raise the young on their own. By selectively feeding on nearby fruit trees and then defecting the seeds, cock-of-the-rocks can help to regenerate the forest habitats where they live.

Location: cock-of-the-rocks are native to South America and are found in tropical and subtropical rainforests.

Best places to see cock-of-the-rocks

According to reports submitted to WildSide, the best places to see cock-of-the-rocks are as follows:

Photo credit: Nathan Rupert, under a Creative Commons license from Flickr