rock rock species south american centimetres length weighs grams found tropical near preferred habitat rocky males plumage bright orange males prominent half moon crest females brownish colour generally coloured males species genus rock rock lives forested region northeastern south_america diet consists fruit includes small snakes rock breeds early months year average lays eggs march height mating season males engage competitive displays complex behaviour attract females males females live separately females choose mate mating success varies based multiple factors ranging plumage exhibited male composition females choose male flying ground male male turns mating takes place immediately speculation male male competition important factor formation breeding main predators rock eagles black white hawk eagles description rock stout bodied bird prominent half moon crest sexually bird male crest pronounced female bright orange males orange tipped black tail black orange white wings bright orange bill orange iris outer edge silky orange feathers inner sexes orange legs skin conspicuous female dark brownish grey overall yellow tipped black bill orange iris smaller crest year old juvenile males look similar adult female orange bodies years juvenile males orange brown grey spots males attain definitive plumage years juvenile females look identical adult counterparts rock total length approximately centimetres total weight grams species rock meet plumage male wings black lacking orange seen male female reddish brown brownish gray taxonomy etymology rock species genus described type species genus rock similar body shape generic specific names derived latin words rock cliff inhabiting express habit nesting rock walls range habitat suggested rock found occurring french southern venezuela eastern colombia northern preferred habitats humid forests near rocky normally found altitude metres rock distinctive territorial markings males usually dominance area ground occupy middle strata forests characteristic marking clearing debris ground including twigs leaves area called court quality courts known influence mate choice court quality determined territory density location center activity reason focus center activity successful males tended courts densely areas courts commonly found forested region northeastern south_america behaviour diet diet adult rock consists mainly fruits meaning species fruit reported diet primarily canopy trees quarters fruit eaten rock study site red coloured fruit found growing base huge rock rock females nesting found growing forest speculated females ate forest native dropped seeds nesting small snakes insects frogs occasionally found diet feeding nearby fruit trees seeds birds actively influence regeneration succession forest habitat breed breeding rock breed early year females lay eggs march height mating season males gather multiple males defending social display arena greater area lone male males area forest floor courts size court metre diameter bird metres away females males live separately time mate females fly observe choose male occurs females tap males quickly follows females approach males stand firmly present mating success dependent variety factors range plumage exhibited male composition study female rock displayed sexual selection based comparisons threshold standards engaged pool comparison tactic meaning females chose males higher rank courtship males higher rank received females lower ranking single males ignored rankings determined courts positioned courts centrally placed indicated successful higher ranking males females study individually observed aggregate larger centrally concentrated demonstrating active female choice male mating behaviour smaller rock male takes lesser breeding nesting mating male energy instead devoted elaborate display rituals magnificent plumage displays place communal males gather challenge rivals females displaying male purposely contrasts forest shows crest plumage bill tail obscured making difficult recognize bird attract females female perch low branch males court ground cleared dead leaves male taking landing males variety calls movements showing crest elongated secondary feathers snapping bills males display branches metres ground female approaches males display individual plots ground males females successful unlike bird species male use resources parental care females males engage courtship disruption practices study conducted interactions adult males females observed linked mate choice male patterns adult males produced behaviour varying intensity depended situation lower intensity males usually directed aggression threats neighboring males attempts improve maintain breeding status success males tended successful disrupted greater frequency males lower mating success higher intensity successful males directed females behaviour suggested effect females male disrupted mature adults basis practice future possess territory female disruption uncommon event little effect accessibility male young males highly species rock failed mate year probably older experienced males enjoy majority strong system sexual selection successive breeding dominant aggressive males leads high sex drives endurance theory suggests selection aggressive males puts premium value female characteristics likely occurrence female aggression ecological consequences possible advantage formation rock severe selection consequent rapid evolutionary advancement possible high males males needed generation courtship behaviour similarly arisen differences division labour sexes females energy building nests young males spend time energy finding mates caring plumage rock form large averaging adult males males display especially vulnerable attacks predation large snakes natural predators manipulated groups smaller size predation likely occur giving rise relationship number frequency attacks size smaller frequency attacks smaller group rock males likely disperse completely compared large group false alarm trigger complete flush time found birds relatively ineffective methods anti predation social anti predation encounters predators keeping males alive speculation simulation male male competition important formation breeding nesting unlike species family rock makes nest rocky cliff faces caves trees female lays eggs nest mud plant material attached vertical rock male participate building nest eggs eggs typically days ideal nesting sites species usually located cave vertical rock face provide shelter protection elements nests solid formed mud plant material deposited solid nature nests typically persist breeding season females repairs nests breeding season begins impact natural sexual selection trait development males allows visibly stand brown forest floor bright provides sexual advantage adult males increasing likelihood successfully mating result rapid evolutionary selection species brighter plumage conspicuous behaviour patterns males bright makes males susceptible predation males reason small number males needed generation order species sexual selection leads bright plumage natural selection turn favors defensive birds higher fitness birds monitoring nests acts camouflage protection predation conservation fairly common large range population stable rock considered concern red list threatened species main predators rock eagles black white hawk eagles black hawk eagles backed forest main predators species predators jaguar predators snakes bird snake tree tiger rat snake lance species rare captivity breeding achieved small number facilities world successful captive breeding usa predation response larger groups risk predation group individuals alert group approaching predator birds groups looking predator advantage seeing predator risk bigger group false alarm signals common signal birds fly trees found birds signal snake
Guianan cock-of-the-rock