#cotingas

For a bird as flamboyant as the Guianan cock-of-the-rock, homosexual behavior is almost a given. Studies have shown that up to 40% of males engage in same-sex copulation, particularly among younger individuals who have yet to establish their own territories for displaying to females, and a small percentage never attempt to court females at all.

An Andean cock of the rock (Rupicola peruvianus) in Ecuador

Andean cock-of-the-rock | Golden-browed chlorophonia | Orange-breasted fruiteater

Photo: Tom Murray

"Male is entirely snowy white with stout yellow bill. Female also has yellow bill, but body is entirely pale gray with obvious white edges on wing feathers. Rather chunky body with short tail and smoothly rounded head, large black eye. Flies with unique, slow and deep wingbeats. Distinctive in limited range. Found in canopy of forests and mangroves; often seen around fruiting trees. Frequently perches conspicuously. Quiet."

Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola) (male), family Cotingidae (cotingas)

The Guianan cock-of-the-rock shows strong sexual dimorphism, with males having larger crests on the head, having silky filamentous feathers on the wings, and being far more brightly colored. Females are dull brownish in color, with a darker bill, and a small crest on the head.

Speed-dating is hard enough when it's one-on-one; never mind fifteen-on-one! Female Andeon cock of the rocks choose their mates at gatherings called leks, in which up to fifteen males will gather and display their best. This involves wing-flapping, head bobbing, and lots of loud calls. But all that effort is often for naught-- females will often wait to see who gets picked first, and the lucky male then becomes the prime choice, while the other males are more or less ignored.