About Rupicola peruvianus (Latham, 1790)
The Andean cock-of-the-rock, with the scientific name Rupicola peruvianus (Latham, 1790), is a large passerine bird. It measures approximately 32 cm (13 in) in length and weighs around 265 grams (9.3 oz; 0.584 lb); males are somewhat larger, with the heaviest specimens reaching up to 300 grams (11 oz; 0.66 lb). This species shows strong sexual dimorphism. Males have a large, disk-like crest and bright scarlet or orange plumage, with black tails and wings, and pale greyish scapulars. Females are significantly duller and browner than males, and have a less prominent crest. The male's bill is yellowish, while the female's bill is dark with a small yellow tip. Iris color varies noticeably by sex and subspecies: in males it ranges from red through orange and yellow to bluish-white, and in females it ranges from whitish through reddish to brown. Beyond the display calls mentioned in breeding information, foraging Andean cocks-of-the-rock give a loud, querulous "tank?" call when disturbed or in flight. The Andean cock-of-the-rock lives in the cloud forests of the Andes, across a large range of approximately 260,000 km2 (100,000 sq mi) that spans Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It occurs mostly in ravines and forested streams in montane areas at elevations between 500 and 2,400 m (1,600 to 7,900 ft). It typically stays in the lower and middle forest layers, but will move higher into fruiting trees, and sometimes enters and crosses open clearings. It is generally shy and hard to spot, often only seen briefly when flushed out or while flying swiftly down a valley. Four subspecies are recognized: R. p. aequatorialis is the most widespread, ranging across the Andes from eastern Colombia to western Venezuela, eastern Ecuador, and eastern Peru; the nominate subspecies R. p. peruvianus has a small limited range restricted to the Andes of central Peru; R. p. sanguinolentus ranges across the Andes from western Colombia to northwestern Ecuador; and R. p. saturatus ranges across southeastern Peru and western Bolivia. Andean cocks-of-the-rock affect their surrounding environment. There is a record of a white-capped dipper renovating an abandoned Andean cock-of-the-rock nest to use for laying its own eggs. These birds also alter local plant communities through seed dispersal. Seeds ingested by the birds are often deposited around their lekking and nesting sites, which favors the germination and growth of these seeds. Seed diversity is higher at leks and nests than in the surrounding surrounding forest. The diet of the Andean cock-of-the-rock consists mainly of fruit and insects, though lizards and frogs have also been recorded as prey. Most of the fruits they consume come from the plant families Lauraceae, Annonaceae, and Rubiaceae, though fruits from a small number of other plant families have also been recorded in their diet. They are one of many bird species that have been recorded following army ants. They occasionally eat high-protein fruits, but prefer other fruits as part of their diet.
