Species profile
About this species
The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock is a striking bird native to the Andean cloud forests of South America, widely regarded as the national bird of Peru. Males display brilliant scarlet or orange plumage with a prominent fan-shaped crest that nearly conceals the bill, while females are considerably duller with brownish colouring. They are highly social during breeding season, with males gathering at traditional display arenas known as leks to perform elaborate courtship behaviours.
Andean cloud forests & rocky outcrops along river gorges, typically found at elevations between 500m & 2400m across Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Andean Cock-of-the-Rock with us in Colombia & Peru.
These departures are part of our South America programme.
In the field, David Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
The best time to photograph this species is during the early morning hours at lek sites, roughly from 5:30am to 8am. The breeding season from October through to March offers the most reliable & spectacular display activity, with males in full breeding plumage.
Position yourself near an active lek site before dawn & remain as still as possible to avoid disturbing the displaying males. Use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/500s to freeze the energetic courtship movements & a wide aperture to separate subjects from the dense forest background. A long telephoto lens of 400mm or more is recommended to maintain a respectful distance while still capturing detailed plumage shots.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.