Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Rupicola peruvianus
- Family
- Cotingas (Cotingidae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), also known as tunki (Quechua), is a large passerine bird of the cotinga family native to Andean cloud forests in South America. It is the national bird of Peru. It has four subspecies and its closest relative is the Guianan cock-of-the-rock.
The Andean cock-of-the-rock exhibits marked sexual dimorphism; the male has a large disk-like crest and scarlet or brilliant orange plumage, while the female is significantly darker and browner. Gatherings of males compete for breeding females with each male displaying his colourful plumage, bobbing and hopping, and making a variety of calls.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Fruit and insects.
How to identify it
- Male: blazing orange-red with a disc-shaped crest hiding the bill
- Black wings with grey tertials
- Males display at noisy group leks at dawn
Voice
Loud squealing and grunting at leks.
Where to see it
- Manu Road, Peru
- Mindo, Ecuador
Destination guides featuring this bird
- JJanuary: Poor or no data
- FFebruary: Poor or no data
- MMarch: Poor or no data
- AApril: Good
- MMay: Best
- JJune: Best
- JJuly: Best
- AAugust: Best
- SSeptember: Best
- OOctober: Best
- NNovember: Good
- DDecember: Poor or no data
- JJanuary: Good
- FFebruary: Good
- MMarch: Good
- AApril: Good
- MMay: Good
- JJune: Best
- JJuly: Best
- AAugust: Best
- SSeptember: Best
- OOctober: Good
- NNovember: Good
- DDecember: Good
Similar species
- Guianan Cock-of-the-rock
- orange with a different wing pattern; Guiana Shield
Range and habitat
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Andean cock-of-the-rock
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
