Tunki (Quechua)
The Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus) is a large forest bird native to South America. It was first described by English ornithologist John Latham in 1790. Presently, it is the national bird of Peru.
The Andean cock-of-the-rock is one of many bird species to exhibit marked sexual dimorphism. The male has a large disk-like crest and brilliant scarlet or orange plumage. He has a black tail and wings, and pale greyish scapulars. The female is significantly drabber and browner than the male and has a less prominent crest. The bill is yellowish in the male and dark with a small yellow tip in the female. Depending on gender and subspecies there are significant variations in the color of the iris, ranging from red over orange and yellow to bluish-white in the male, and whitish over reddish to brown in the female.
Andean cocks-of-the-rock are found in the cloud forests of the Andes. They live across Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, and Bolivia, mostly in ravines and forested streams in montane areas. They typically stay in the lower and middle forest levels but will range higher in fruiting trees and will sometimes enter and cross clearings.
These birds are generally shy and inconspicuous, often seen only briefly after being flushed out or while swiftly flying down a valley. They lead a solitary lifestyle and communicate with each other only during the mating season. When foraging these birds give a loud querulous "tank?" when disturbed or in flight.
Andean cocks-of-the-rock are herbivores (frugivores) and carnivores (insectivores). Their diet consists mainly of fruit and insects, although they may also eat small reptiles and frogs. These birds are one of many species recorded following army ants.
Andean cocks-of-the-rock are polygonous; they don't form pairs and males don't help with incubation and raising the chicks. The male's energy instead is devoted to very elaborate display rituals that show off his magnificent plumage. These displays take place in communal leks, where males gather to challenge rivals and attract females. At the lek, males have been observed to break up into pairs, performing "confrontation displays". This consists of facing each other while bowing, jumping, and flapping their wings, sometimes even snapping their bills, and at the same time giving off various squawking and grunting calls. When the female approaches, it becomes even more intense. The display turns into a cacophony of bright colors and a frenzied activity filling the air with very strange sounds. Breeding takes place at different times of the year in different areas. In Colombia, it usually happens from February until July. In Ecuador, the breeding interval spans from July until February. Only the female builds the nest; it is mud-plastered to cave entrances or rocky outcrops in forest ravines. The nests are often constructed from the saliva of the females mixed in with vegetable matter and mud. The nest is shaped like a concave cup. The female typically lays 2 white eggs and incubates them for about 25-28 days.
This species doesn't face any major threats at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Andean cock-of-the-rock total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
Andean cocks-of-the-rock influence the ecosystem around them. They provide nesting sites for other birds like White-capped dipper. Cocks-of-the-rock also change the surrounding flora through seed dispersal. Seeds that the birds ingest often are found deposited around lek and nesting sites. This favors the germination and growth of those seeds.
