Behavior Andean cock-of-the-rock

1 behavior

1.1 food , feeding
1.2 breeding
1.3 nesting
1.4 impact on environment
1.5 predators

behavior
food , feeding

the diet consists of fruit , insects, although small reptiles , frogs have been recorded. fruits consumed plant families lauraceae, annonaceae, , rubiaceae, although few other plant families have been reported in diet. 1 of many species recorded following army ants. eat high protein fruits, prefer eat other fruits on menu.

breeding

detail of male head plumage

male cocks-of-the-rock polygamous, , have nothing nesting once mating done. male’s energy instead devoted elaborate display rituals show off magnificent plumage. these displays take place in communal leks, males gather challenge rivals , beckon females. males disturbed, behavior not easy see. 1 study reported display activity dependent on light intensity, morning display period occurring during same light intensity level afternoon period.

male andean cock-of-the-rock choosing best lekking position

at lek, males have been observed break pairs, performing “confrontation displays”. consists of facing each other while bowing, jumping, , flapping wings, snapping bills, , @ same time giving off various squawking , grunting calls. when female approaches, becomes more intense. display turns cacophony of bright color , frenzied activity filling air strange sounds.

breeding takes place during different times of year in different areas. in colombia, breeding happens in february until july. in ecuador, breeding interval spans july until february.

nesting

the nests, built entirely female, mud plastered cave entrances or rocky outcrops in forest ravines. nests constructed saliva of females mixed in vegetable matter , mud. nest shaped concave cup. female typically lays 2 white eggs. females incubates these eggs 25 28 days.

impact on environment

andean cocks-of-the-rocks influence environment around them. found white-capped dipper renovated abandoned cock-of-the-rock nest lay eggs in. cock-of-the-rocks change surrounding flora through seed dispersal. seeds birds ingest found deposited around lek , nesting sites. favours germination , growth of seeds. diversity of these types of seeds has been found increased @ lek , nests , decreased throughout surrounding forest.

predators

andean cocks-of-the-rock face larger predators smaller songbirds. predators attracted leks conspicuous behavior of displaying males. animals reported prey on adult cocks-of-the-rock including hawk-eagles, hawks, forest-falcons, jaguar, mountain lion, ocelot , boa constrictor.