Cock of the Rock: Machu Picchu´s icon.

It´s the most famous bird of the Machu Picchu´s mountains. Locally known as “gallito de las rocas” o “tunqui”, its extremely rare beauty has granted an special place among the symbols of Perú. For ornithologists, birdwatchers and wildlife experts, it is a true nature treasure that remains hidden and elusive deep in the mist forest of the Sanctuary.

The exact number of this specie (Rupicola peruvianus) on the region is unknown, but one thing is for sure: they were many thousands more in the past.

Although their bright orange-red plumage is the most known, there are other variations of its wonderful presence over the brunches all over the place, like its yellow cousin from Guyana.

Their diet is based specially on fruits. For nesting, they are very jealous about their breeding security, building their nest close to water and in the most unreachable faces of the cliffs, so high it is impossible even to see. Up there, the female undertakes the nest weave and eggs hatch, that use to be two for each breending.

As most of bird species, the female cock of the rocks chooses the male. Then is when male displays one of the most astonishing shows of nature, trying to attract its partner with its colourful suit, jumping from branch to branch and screaming so loud the noise could be heard as far as two hundred meters from there. Some birdwatchers were fortunate witnesses of this waltz of nature, describing it as completely out of this world.

But the cock of the rock is also vital for the Machu Picchu´s Sanctuary for another reason. As we said, one of their most important diet ingredients are fruits. They eat them including the whole seeds, which spread all over the region by regurgitating or defecating them. That´s how the forest expands and renewed itself. Some researches found that the huge amount of seeds found in nests or spread close to them, changed completely the variety of plants in that place.

That is why the cock of the rocks is another reason to visit Machu Picchu. A wonder of life. A once-in-a-lifetime chance.