Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

*Top 50 Target Species (Because"WOW")

In Ecuador, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock is a dazzling icon of humid cloud forests on both Andean slopes, typically found between 500 and 2,400 meters in mossy ravines and forested cliffs. Males gather at communal leks to perform elaborate courtship displays—bobbing, calling, and flaunting their brilliant orange crests—while females nest alone on rocky ledges, crafting mud nests and raising young without assistance. Though habitat fragmentation poses localized threats, the species remains fairly common in suitable habitat and is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its presence signals a healthy forest ecosystem, and in Ecuador, it draws both admiration and ecotourism attention in reserves like Mindo and Podocarpus.