The Cock of the Rock Bird

Cock of the Rock Behavior

The Cock of the Rock gets its name for its behavior. It has a tendency to prefer rocks and ledges for its nest. The Cock of the Rock breeds at different times of the year. In Ecuador the breeding season for Cock of the Rock typically runs from July until February each year.

One of the most interesting behavioral aspects of the Cock of the Rock is its lek activity. Leks are communal areas where these birds come together. At the lek the males often split up into groups of two and compete with one another. They jump around and flap a bit, and squawk a lot, sometimes snapping their bills too. If a female comes nearby then the activity becomes more intense and louder. There can be a lot of noise when this activity is going on, and some of it rather strange!

Once the male has found and mated with a female then he has done his bit, and the work now falls to the female. The female will build the nest, and this is made of mud and vegetation, built in the shape of a cup. The female binds all the bits of the nest together with her own saliva. Once the nest is built, the female will lay her eggs. Usually just two eggs are laid, and she will take care of these for up to 28 days (they will hatch after between 25 and 28 days).

For food, the Cock of the Rock eats mostly insects and fruits. From time to time they will also feast on frogs and reptiles – though quite small ones, and not so commonly. Very rarely there have been sightings of the Cock of the Rock eating small mice, but this is certainly not common. This bird is typically quite shy and tends to forage for food on its own, though occasionally they can be seen doing so in larger groups (up to three others).