Portrait of the Andean Cock-of-the Rock
Inkaterra's Regional Head of Ecotourism, Joseph Quispe, leads a birdwatching excursion through the cloud forest.
A few weeks ago, we embarked on a mission to trace the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus). What makes this species so impressive to observe is not only its distinctive look but also its mating rituals. It was early in the morning, and we had begun our trek along a cloud forest route at an elevation of 2,040 meters above sea level, on the banks of the Urubamba River, near the confluence of the Aguas Calientes and Alcamayo rivers. Our hike, led by Joseph Quispe, Inkaterra's Regional Head of Ecotourism, took us along the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel's 10-hectare property.
In the mid-1970s, this property was used for grazing and as a sawmill. Inkaterra was one of the pioneers of regenerative tourism, focusing on the cultivation of native flora to restore the life cycle. It replanted the forest with ferns, bromeliads, and trees like queñual and pisonay. Birds arrived along with the flowers. The cock-of-the-rock, attracted by palm clusters such as Chamaedorea pinnatifrons was one of the first young species to return.
Photo by: Inkaterra
The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock is endemic to the cloud forests of the Andes. As one of the largest seed dispersers in its habitat, it has served as a pollinator for this property's gardens, which have since been turned into a hotspot of biological biodiversity, home to 372 species of native orchids and other epiphytes, as well as 299 bird species identified by the eBird app.
Because they tend to be elusive, small, and perched high in the air, birds can be challenging to spot. However, on our first excursion day, we walked and waited patiently, sighting quite a few species of birds, including the Blue and Yellow Tanager (Thraupis bonariensis) and Colibri thalassinus. Our guide Joseph was optimistic throughout the trek; he said these birds could show up every few days and linger for a few minutes around the property. And he was right.
An andean cock-of-the-rock in the cloud forest of Machu Picchu, by Steve Sánchez
Seeing it more frequently does not mean that it will always be visible. The cock-of-the-rock is an elusive bird, and no matter how hard we seek it in the crags where it nests, or how early we get up and wait for it with binoculars until the last light of day, seeing the red spot among the foliage and mist is like winning the lottery. However, on the second day of the excursion, the crew traversed through the thick foliage again, and this time they got lucky. Strolling along the vast patches of cloud forest they observed a blazing red flame through the leaves of a tree. It was a cock-of-the-rock with its unique look coming from the crazy little crest that stuck out and its glimmering red color.
Photo by Steve Sanchez
According to Joseph, this was a male. His fan-shaped crest and bright red-orange chest feathers made him easily identifiable. These birds are sexually dimorphic, which means that males look very different from females. The males can be told apart from the females by their bright red feathers. The females are smaller, browner, and have less noticeable crests. Their mating ritual is extraordinary. The males gather in places called "leks" and, spend a great deal of time creating shows of color, sound, and movement to try to attract a female. Bird experts say that these rituals are truly impressive to see because they involve a huge variety of sounds and body movements that often happen very quickly one after the other.
Even for those of us who aren't regular birdwatchers, the experience of walking the trails and fields, sinking into the world of the birds, and listening for distant calls is beautiful. The IUCN has classified the cock-of-the-rock as Least Concern, but due to its extensive range, it can be difficult to find in some areas, so we were very fortunate to see one.
Peruvian photographer Alonso López Salaverry has taken several impressive shots of the cock-of-the-rock. Take a look!
Male birds are easiest to observe when they display to females, as they gather at a lek (community display ground). When they are competing for a mate, they show it by jumping up and down and making low croaking sounds.
The Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), locally known as Tunki or Gallito de las rocas, is Peru's national bird.
It primarily eats fruit, although it will also feed insects and small animals. Because they eat fruit, they are likely essential seed dispersers for tree species, many of which are threatened as a result of the rapid clearing of cloud forests across the Americas.