The national bird of Peru, the Cock-of-the-Rock has featured on stamps and in school text books in that country for decades. As is often the case with bird species, the males are the most striking in appearance, having brilliant orange or red plumage, with a disk-like cockade on the top of their heads. The females are much duller in appearance, with grey/brown feathers.
The exuberant males frequently gather together in groups in display areas called ‘leks’, perching 3m above the ground and squawking until a female approaches. Once a potential mate appears, the males drop to the ground and each endeavours to be the loudest performer, dancing, bobbing their heads and making raucous noises in a spectacle which is always entertaining to watch. Once a female has made her choice, she approaches the lucky male and pecks him on the rump. Once mating is over, the male plays no role in bringing up the resulting chick.
For some of the best places to see Cock of the Rock, click on links to your left.
