Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cotingas

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola peruvianus

LCLeast Concern
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

  1. Male: blazing orange-red with a disc-shaped crest hiding the bill
  2. Black wings with grey tertials
  3. Males display at noisy group leks at dawn

Voice

Loud squealing and grunting at leks.

Listen to recordings on xeno-canto

Where to see it

  • Manu Road, Peru
  • Mindo, Ecuador

Destination guides featuring this bird

Similar species

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock
orange with a different wing pattern; Guiana Shield

Range and habitat

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.