Guinan cock-of-the-rock Facts
- With its highly unusual common name, the Stunning Guinan cock-of-the-rock presents a striking image to any who encounter it. First described by the Swedish botanist and zoologist in the year 1766, the animal has a slightly less unusual scientific name. That’s because the official scientific name of this truly amazing avian remains the Rupicola rupicola.
- Furthermore, this astonishing bird also stands out from other birds in yet another manner. That’s because this particular species represents one of only two in its entire genus. The other even has a very similar common name, the Andean cock-of-the-rock. In point of fact, the highly distinctive and unusual names reflect the nesting habits of the remarkable bird.
- Quite fortunately, the incredible Guinan cock-of-the-rock appears to have a relatively stable population throughout the entirety of its natural range. Therefore, the IUCN presently lists the remarkable bird on its Red List as Least Concern. Nevertheless, like many other species, the magnificent songbird faces the potential threat of climate change in the near future.
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Guinan cock-of-the-rock Physical Description
The sincerely gorgeous bird known commonly as the Guinan cock-of-the-rock represents a roughly average-sized variety of songbird. However, much like a great many species of avian, this marvelous animal does display a moderate degree of the physiological characteristic known as sexual dimorphism.
In the case of this particular species, however, that trait presents itself in two different fashions. Firstly, the females of the species attains a slightly larger overall size than does the male. This gender attains an average length of roughly 12 in (30 cm). Meanwhile, the males remain slightly, but not significantly, smaller.
Secondly, the different sexes present different color patterns. The larger, half-moon crest of the male has a bright orange color. By contrast, the crest of the female remains a dark brownish-gray in color. In fact, she remains that color all over. But the male has an orange body, a black-tipped tail, and black, white, and orange wings.
Nevertheless, in other ways, both genders of the amazing Guinan cock-of-the-rock appear quite similar. In point of fact, the general body shape of both remains quite stocky. Furthermore, and amazingly, both sexes possess bright orange colored legs and skin. In addition, both genders possess an orange iris in the eyes.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Cotingidae
- Genus: Rupicola
- Species: R. rupicola
Guinan cock-of-the-rock Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The amazing Guinan cock-of-the-rock inhabits only a tiny portion of the world. Furthermore, as its very name implies, this range consists of the region known to scientists as the Guinan Shield. This represent a geological region of the continent of South America. This magnificent bird inhabits an area that includes the countries of Suriname, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, and part of Brazil.
However, within that comparatively large habitat range, the amazing creature has decided preferences for its choice of habitat. In fact, these rank as extremely specific, and therefore limiting. Firstly, it appears in very humid forests. Secondly, the bird also requires the presence of numerous rocky outcroppings. Thirdly, even with these, it only lives in such areas at altitudes between 980 – 6,560 ft (300 – 2,00 m).
Mature adult specimens of the astounding Guinan cock-of-the-rock have a diet consisting primarily of fruit. However, the animal consumes a wide variety of locally available fruit. In addition, the remainder of its diet consists of various insects, frogs, snakes, and lizards. Again distinguishing itself from similar species, this avian makes its nests in rocky regions, instead of in trees.
Species Sharing Its Range
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