The Guianan cock-of-the-rock is found in the eastern region of South America. It can be seen in Guyana, Venezuela, French Guiana, Suriname, Colombia, and Brazil. The male has the bright red-orange feathers on its head and upper breast. The female is a darker brown in appearance, with a yellow-tipped beak. These birds are the stereotypical example of a dead beat, boisterous dad in that the males are only interested in showing off and breeding. These birds are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to their large numbers and wide demographic.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Rupicola rupicola
Weight: Up to 7.76 ounces
Length: Up to 11.8 inches
Wingspan: Up to 13+ inches
Lifespan: Up to 8 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These beautiful birds eat fruit, insects, lizards, and frogs.
2.) The cock-of-the-rock is sexually dimorphic in the that male and the female look very different.
3.) Their primary predators are harpy eagles, falcons, jaguars, ocelots, and snakes.
4.) Males display a communal lek (a gathering of males for the purposes of competitive mating display) to attract females.
5.) The male doesn’t help in the incubation duties or the raising of the young. The males are polygamous (mate with several females).
But wait, there’s more on the Guianan cock-of-the-rock!
6.) After breeding, the female is responsible for building the nest, under rocky overhangs. The nests are made from mud stuck to cave entrances or also in rocky outcrops in forest ravines.
7.) Breeding season lasts from July – February each year.
Did you know…?
During the lek, the males pair up in groups of 2 and jump around, flap their wings, and squawk loudly; sometimes snapping their bills. If a female comes close then the behavior becomes even more intense.
8.) The hen will lay 1 – 2 white eggs and she will incubate them for about 28 days, without the help of the deadbeat dad.
Now a Short Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock Video!
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