Status: Least Concern
Population: Not Quantified
Location: Guiana Highlands
Threats: Predators and Deforestation
The Guianan cock-of-the-rock is a species native to the tropical rainforests of South America. Their latin name Rupicola Rupicola is derived from the Latin word “rupes”, meaning rock or cliff, and “cola”, meaning inhabiting. Their name also comes from their habit of nesting in the rocky cliff edges found in the Guianan Sheild that crosses French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Southern Venezuela, Eastern Colombia and Northern Brazil.
Female cock-of-the-rock's lay one or two eggs in these outcrops around March. During mating season, the males engage in an activity called “lekking” to attract a mate. This is when they gather in spread out groups to perform their mating displays. When a female is impressed, she will tap the male from behind. Although males are polygynous, mating with multiple partners in their lifetime, females only mate with a single male.
The cock-of-the-rock is dimorphic, which means that the males are distinctive from the females in size and appearance. The male is bright orange with an impressive half crescent crest that partially covers its beak. This creates an illusion that their heads are a perfect half-circle. The females of this species are smaller and have mottled grey and brown feathers that allow them to camouflage with the rockier aspects of their environment. Both species have orange skin and legs.
Cock-of-the-rocks are primarily frugivores, with a preference for red or black colored fruits. They help with the distribution of fruit plants in their habitats and eat over sixty different types. Their droppings allow for a wider dispersal of seeds than the trees and bushes themselves can produce. Occasionally, they will also consume small snakes, lizards, insects and frogs.
