Cock-of-the-Rock |
Cock-of-the-Rock Interesting Information With Picture
Very beautiful and attractive birds are found all over the world. We get happy seeing the structure and beauty of these birds. These birds are found in many species which look very beautiful. Cock-of-the-Rock is a type of bird and it belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
Today in this article we take a look at some interesting facts about these unique and exotic bird species. Cock-of-the-Rock bird is the national bird of Peru. There are two types of these birds, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and Guayanan Cock-of-the-Rock. Apart from these two, there is also an albino cock-of-the-rock.
These bird species are originally seen in Venezuela, Colombia and Peru. Since the Cock-of-the-Rock bird was classified as the national bird of Peru, this bird was recognized as a checklist species on all birdwatchers list.
Where Are Cock-of-the-Rock Found
The Andean Cock of the Rock can be seen in different countries of the northern region of South America. This bird is mostly found in Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
The Guianan Cock of the Rock is more found in the eastern region of South America. This bird is more likely to be seen in French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, the south of Venezuela, Colombia and the Amazon region of Brazil.
The Cock-of-the-Rock mostly lives in forest areas and rarely comes in contact with people. When attacked by predators such as snakes, its immediate tendency is to flee from the area.
These birds live at such a high altitude that it becomes difficult for potential predators to attack. These birds live in altitudes between 1590 and 8000 feet (485 - 2,440 meters).
Scientific Name Of Cock-of-the-Rock
The scientific name of Andean Cock-of-the-Rock is Rupicola peruvianus
Habitat Of Cock-of-the-Rock
The Cock-of-the-Rock habitat is mainly in rainforests, jungles, but it is also seen in cloud forests and mountainous areas and cloud forest is a tropical or subtropical forest.
The national bird of Peru, the Cock-of-the-Rock, is seen in tropical rainforests as well as similar habitats in other parts of the world including Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock is also found in cloud forests.
The Cock-of-the-Rock bird is named so because of its tendency or habit of building nests on rocks. In these birds, only the female bird builds its nest with mud and plants.
These birds are not always seen in the open and if you spot one, you are one of the lucky ones. These birds look like ash birds with bright orange head, wings and tail. This bird is a symbol of Peru's biodiversity. Read- Ani Bird Special Information About This Beautiful Bird
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What Cock-of-the-Rock Look Like
The Cock of the Rock bird is a brilliantly colored bright red-orange bird that looks very attractive. It is a stunning and attractive creature. This bird is popular, and perhaps for this reason it is the national bird of Peru.
While there are two different species of Cock of the Rock bird, the one you have the best chance of seeing in Ecuador is the Andean Cock of the Rock. The other type is the Guianan Cock of the Rock, which is found in other parts of South America.
The males and females of these birds look quite different. The male is the bird with bright red-orange feathers on the head and upper breast and the female is a darker bird that is brown in appearance. Female birds are largely brown with orange parts on their body while the males are brightly colored.
The males of these birds are noted for the flat circular crest above the beak. The males mostly display their feathers and compete with other males. A brown stripe appears on the edge of the crest.
Length And Weight Of Cock-of-the-Rock
Among these bird species, Andean Cock is 12-13 inches (31 -33 cm) which is 20 times bigger than the world's smallest bird hummingbird which is 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) long.
Peru's national bird is a very cute and unique species. These birds are brightly colored and have loud voices that can be heard from a distance.
The weight of Cock-of-the-Rock bird is about 190 grams to 265 grams. These birds can reach a maximum of 300 grams. It can vary from various factors including their diet. In these species, the female bird weighs less.
What Do Cock-of-the-Rock Eat
Cock-of-the-Rock birds mainly like to eat fruits in their diet. Apart from this, they also eat small insects, small reptiles and frogs.
Cock-of-the-Rock Nests And Eggs
Throughout the year, the male birds practice a dance to attract females for mating. This is rarely seen in other species of animals.
The Cock of the Rock gets its name for its behavior. These birds have a tendency to prefer rocks and ledges for their nests. Cock of the Rock birds breed at different times of the year.
The breeding season for the Cock of the Rock bird in Ecuador usually lasts from July to February every year. After breeding, the job of building the nest falls on the female bird. The males are polygamous in nature and are not involved in the rearing of the chicks and nest building.
The female birds use mud and vegetation to build the nest and make their nest in the shape of a cup. The female bird joins all the pieces of the nest together with her saliva.
The primary diet of these birds is fruits and hence they build their nests mostly in the proximity of their food sources so that they can easily get food and survive.
Once the nest is ready, the female lays eggs. Mostly only two eggs are laid by the female bird and she takes care of these eggs for 28 days. Read- 31 Interesting Facts About Poison Dart Frogs With Picture
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How Long Do Cock-of-the-Rock live
The Cock-of-the-Rock bird lives for about 7 years. According to some information, the longest living male bird was 17 years old.
How Fast Can Cock-of-the-Rock Fly
The wingspan of Cock-of-the-Rock bird is 23.6 inches-25.6 inches. And these birds have good flight speed but due to their loud voice they become prey to predators.
These birds are quite shy birds and are rarely seen in the open, so keen eyes are needed to see them only then they are visible.
How Do Cock-of-the-Rock Communicate
Cock-of-the-Rock birds usually make a loud sound like 'Yoi'. The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock's voice is louder than other species of the same family. Mostly their voice is also heard as 'Kip-Kip-Kip'.
This sometimes loud call often gets them into trouble as it is audible to potential predators making them vulnerable to attack. Both species of birds make a loud 'unk' sound if they are disturbed or when searching for food.
How Many Cock-of-the-Rock Are There In The World
The exact number of Cock-of-the-Rock birds in the world is not known, while they exist as two extant species of the same family, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock.
The Cock-of-the-Rock bird is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Behavior Of Cock-of-the-Rock
The behavior of these birds shows that it is not a dangerous bird. When attacked by predators such as snakes, these birds tend to flee the area immediately.
These birds are naturally wild animals and are not kept as pets. These birds can be seen in zoos, conservation centers and other designated places. Apart from this, these bird species can be seen in their native habitat.