Cock-of-the-Rock

[Donde1]

This bird is popular with birders and bird photographers who come to South America. Most visit leks in Peru and Ecuador but there is a lek just outside Cali, Colombia where some world birders say it is easier to see and photograph the birds. That's after getting to it of course. It's a three hour hike up hill to an utterly nondescript half acre area of wooded slope where the male birds congregate every afternoon after three pm to squawk and squeal for a couple of hours in a display to attract females.

 

[baturn]

Nice. Really odd looking bird.

 

[tirediron]

Very cool!

 

[woolybear]

How do they stay so clean with all that hair around their beaks.
Must be the bird worlds version of a "flavor saver".
Beautiful shot!

 

[Donde1]

They are fruit eaters but I don't know what kind and evidently have good table manners.

 

[annamaria]

Interesting bird and great shot.

 

[spiralout462]

Thanks for the post! Very interesting.