The Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola rupicola)
Unusual Creatures of Guyana
Kaieteur News
April 29, 2007
As a popular inhabitant of the Kanukus and the Wai Wai District of Konashen in the southernmost part of Guyana , the beautiful, but elusive Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola) is one of the world's most spectacular birds.
Its fantastic plumage and colourful courtship displays equal those of any bird of paradise, according to some scientific observations.
And with their fascinating traits they are even used as tourism attractions, being displayed on stamps, posters and even phone cards locally.
They are also proudly listed as one of the many birds which are a part of bird-watching activities.
These magnificent creatures are of two types: the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruviana) and the Guiana Cock-of-the Rock (Rupicola rupicola).
Both species are said to be restricted to mountainous areas of northern South America .
They are found in tropical and subtropical rain forests close to rocky areas where they build their nests.
The Andean types are distributed in the Andes from Venezuela south to Bolivia , while those of Guiana are found in the more ancient and highly eroded mountains that lie east of the Andes and north of the Amazon River .
They spend a great deal of their time at communal courtship sites call called leks where they defend ground display courts and/or nearby perches from other males.
And just like other cotingids, they have complex court behaviour, performing impressive displays to females visiting the lek. The females then select which males to mate with. Males are polygynous and are said to mate with several females
Since the adult male Cock-of-the-Rock concentrates his time and activities around the lek, and the adult female concentrates her time and activities around cliff nest sites (where several females may build nests in close proximity to each other), seeds are deposited more frequently at leks and at nest sites.
Females build their nests with mud and plant material on steep rock faces above rivers and hence their common name. They lay two eggs in it and the chicks are taken care exclusively by the females.
The eggs are described as pale buff with various sized spots of shades from red-brown to pale lilac.
They are said to be solitary and wary creatures and feed, basically, on fruits before sunrise and sunset, hiding through the day in sombre ravines.
When the Cock-of-the-Rock eats fruit, it swallows many of the seeds whole and most of these are not damaged when they pass through its digestive system. Thus, many seeds remain capable of germinating when the Cock-of-the-Rock defecates or regurgitates them at considerable distances from the parent trees. In this way, the Cock-of-the-Rock plays an important role in dispersing seeds of many different species of forest trees
Their courtship and nesting behaviour are said to increase the local plant diversity.
The males are magnificent birds, not only because of their strong bright-orange or reddish colours, but also because of the very prominent fan-shaped crests they have.
Males of this bird species grow to about 25 cm in height inclusive of their crests which covers their bill. And as with most birds, the females are smaller and their colouring is subtler, looking more brownish instead.
These birds have strong claws and legs which allow them to grip onto steep cliffs and rocks.
Many predators are attracted to the cock-of-the-rock's beautiful plumage. These include birds of prey such as eagles and hawks, puma and jaguars and even boa constrictors.
The loss of habitat, predominantly from forestland being converted to farmland, is also a major threat to the survival of this brilliant bird.