Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Rupicola peruvianus
Blazing orange and bold as flame, the Andean Cock-of-the-rock dances in cloud forest shadows. Males gather in leks, bowing and fluttering with theatrical flair beneath the misty canopy. Revered in Andean mythology and emblematic of Peru, it remains relatively stable but faces mounting pressure from deforestation and tourism. Protecting its courtship grounds means preserving a rare spectacle of color, ritual, and rainforest resilience.
Least Concern
Population: Unknown but locally threatened
Years Until Extinction: 50 - 100 years
Habitat
Montane cloud forests, rocky outcrops by ravines
Main Threat
Deforestation and poorly managed ecotourism
Description
A fiery-orange body with jet-black wings, oversized crest, and piercing yellow eyes. The male’s display is electric—fluttering, squawking, and puffing up like a living lantern in the gloom.
Wingspan: 18 - 20 inches
Diet: Fruit, insects, small reptiles
Nesting: Mud cup nests built on rock faces or ledges
Mating: Competitive lek displays with bouncing, vocal calls
The Andean Cock-of-the-rock is a bright orange, fruit-eating bird from South America’s cloud forests, whose males compete for mates in noisy leks through head-bobbing and wing-flaring displays. The dance mirrors this theatricality with bold chest thrusts, high-energy jumps, and strong head flicks that exude confidence and competition.
Its scientific name means “rock-dweller of Peru” but its dance rivals that of any performer on a global stage.
Learn the Dance
Choreography Suggestions:
Crest bob: pronounced head nods with chest lifted.
Side-display: quarter-turns showing shoulder with wing-flick arms.
Ledge hops: compact forward-back hops as if on a rock face.
Bright and bold; punchy accents with playful show-off pauses.
Not a dancer? Co-create with AI!
Costume Ideas: Vivid orange/red top with charcoal-gray sleeve accents; small rounded “crest” headband.
Prompt Ideas: Dancer as Andean cock-of-the-rock: strong head bobs, side-display quarter turns, quick ledge-like hops; vivid orange costume with gray accents; mossy cliff-stage feel, spotlight pop, loopable.
