The national bird of Peru, the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus) – also known as the Peruvian Andean cock-of-the-rock - lives in Andean cloud forest areas from Venezuela to Bolivia. The male has a large disk-like crest and scarlet or brilliant orange plumage, while the female is significantly darker and browner. It lives only in mountainous regions and builds its nests on the rocky surfaces of cliffs, large boulders, and caves. Male Cocks-of-the-Rock devote a lot of energy to attracting females at communal areas called leks. They display their plumage and compete with other males, in remarkable duels. These ‘confrontation displays’ consist of jumping, wing-flapping, noisy squawking and bill-snapping. The cock-of-the–rock’s diet consists mainly of fruit, insects and small vertebrates. It has four subspecies and its closest relative is the Guianan cock-of-the-rock.
See also: Guianan cock-of-the-rock
