Description: Male Guianan cocks-of-the-rock are bright orange birds with large, orange, half-moon crests on their heads. This edge of the crest is lined with a brown band. The crest remains erect and covers the bill. They have black and white wing bars and black on their tails. The bill, legs, and skin are orange as well. Females are a drab brown color. Their bill is black with a yellow tip and they have a smaller crest than the males.
Size: Slightly smaller than the Andean cock-of-the rocks, adult Guianan cocks-of-the rock grow to be around 12 inches or less (30 cm) in length and weigh 7-7.5 ounces (198-213 gr).
Behavior: Males spend much of the day at a communal lek. Leks can contain as many as 40-50 males that are either participating in combat display, or their characteristic “dancing” display. Females seem to prefer males whose territory is near the center of the lek, denoting dominance. The dominant males may take on young, low- ranking males as apprentices, an association which increases the chances of the lower-ranking males to breed.
Diet: Fruit and berries (usually taken in flight) are the preferred source of food, although large insects, small reptiles and frogs will be eaten if other food sources are scarce.
Communication: A wide array of sounds are used to communicate, from a popping noise created by snapping their bills to calls that are loud and harsh when foraging or competing with males.
Reproduction: They are polygamous and successful males will mate with many females during the breeding season. Females raise the chicks without assistance from the males. They often choose nesting sites near the males’ leks, and it is not unusual for several females to build their nests in groups. Nests are made from mud, clay and plant matter, and are usually built on cliffs or in crevices, near or above a water source. They are built in a damp, shaded area to keep the nests from drying out and cracking. A typical clutch consists of two eggs, which are incubated for 27-28 days.
Habitat/range: Found in lowland forests near rocky areas where nests can be built, Guianan cocks-of-the- rock are distributed through southern Guyana, Colombia, Venezuela and northern Brazil.
Status: Guianan cocks-of-the-rock are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List; listed on Appendix II of CITES.
