Rupicola

Rupicola is a small genus of birds in the family Cotingidae, commonly referred to as cock-of-the-rocks. The genus is most famous for the Andean cock-of-the-rock, Rupicola peruvianus, and is native to the tropical and subtropical forests of the Andes in South America. Species within Rupicola occupy humid montane forests and forest edges at various elevations, depending on locality.

Morphology and plumage are strongly sexually dimorphic. Males typically display vivid orange plumage with a contrasting dark face and a prominent crest or shield-like crown, which they raise and display during lek mating displays. Females are generally duller, with olive-brown or gray-brown plumage that provides camouflage in dense vegetation. This dramatic dimorphism is driven by sexual selection, with males investing in extravagant displays to attract females.

Behavior and ecology: Rupicola species are frugivorous, consuming a variety of fruits, and they may supplement their diet with insects. Males participate in lekking, a mating system in which numerous males perform and display in a shared area to attract visiting females. Females visit the lek to choose mates and then raise the offspring alone, constructing nests in trees or in dense understory, depending on species and habitat.

Conservation and taxonomy: The genus is subject to taxonomic revision, and species limits can vary among authorities. Habitat loss and deforestation in Andean regions threaten many populations, making some Rupicola species of conservation concern. The name Rupicola derives from Latin rupis or rupere, meaning rock, and cola, dweller, a reference to rocky or cliff-associated habitats.

Overall, Rupicola represents a striking example of the diverse cotingid birds of the Neotropics, notable for its dramatic male plumage and lek-based mating behavior.