Ecuador: Refugio Paz de las Aves – Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) for birders is like seeing a snow leopard for normal people – the bird is super unusual and elusive! The bird is a biological marvel of the cloud forests and a sign of a healthy ecosystem. While the females of the species are dull and unremarkable, the males are super bright – they possess bright scarlet plumage and a massive crest that almost completely covers their beaks. This look is designed for one thing – visibility – in the competition for the females. These males are famous to gather around a lek – a special spot in the forest where they gather and perform elaborate dances and sounds (pig-like) in front of the observing females. While the male’s bright neon-red color is great for attracting females, it’s also a “please eat me” sign for predators. To survive, they are extremely elusive and hide in deep foliage most of the time, except for the lek. The Andean Cock-of-the-rock is actually the national bird of Peru.