The cock of the rock or peruviana Rupícola, national bird of Peru

Peru has the second highest number of bird species in the world, considering only endemic species, it is the first place. In the past 30 years we have discovered new species, two on average per year, although in recent years many species of animals have disappeared for various reasons, such as excessive growth of the human population, overuse of natural resources, and other causes.

The cock of the rock or tunqui (Quechua tunki) (rupicola peruviana) is a species of passerine bird in the family Cotingidae. It is the national bird of Peru. Its closest relative is the Guianan cock rock (rupicola rupicola) and is notable for the incredible beauty of their plumage. Its exotic form is popular because his figure has been captured in prints, paintings and photographs are published everywhere.

It is also called cock of the rock, cock of the Sierras, the Andean Cock Rock, Tunqui, cock of the mountain, berreador, chaperone. The Latin name Rupicola peruviana 'means "[bird] of Peru Peruvian or rocks."

Live in the dense forests of the high forest lives one of the most beautiful birds de¡ Peru and is considered the national bird. Its name in Quechua is "tunqui" and in Spanish is "cock of the rock." The geographical distribution extends from Venezuela to Bolivia, through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, between 1400 and 2400 meters above sea level in the forests moist and dense in the eastern Andean slopes.

In the high forest, it prefers certain areas of the humid and dense forests, often near streams and rock faces or cliffs; there may be very common. It is a bird usually quiet, which only makes sounds when in estrus (a kind of grunting) or when it is frightened or is removed from its territory (a sound like "uankk"). It feeds on fruits and insects; predators are eagles, snakes, ferrets, coatis and some smaller cats.

It is a medium bird about 32 cm long, with sexual dimorphism in color. The male is a beautiful deep red-orange color, with orange eyes, beak and yellow-orange legs, an erect crest of feathers on the beak and forehead, black wings and tail, and some pearl gray feathers in the wings . The female is dark reddish brown in its entirety and with the smallest crest.

The female takes care single incubation and care of offspring. This is because the striking presence of the male near the nest is dangerous to attract predators like eagles, snakes, among others. The opaque color of the females then takes a fundamental value, as it serves to avoid being detected by enemies.

Tunqui is the national bird of Peru and has legal protection, hunting is prohibited and marketing; However this provision is not respected and is marketed live or dissected in many places. For lack of knowledge about their diet, captive animals usually do not survive for long. It has also completely disappeared due to forest clearing and illegal hunting that is the subject.

In Peru it is found in various protected areas like national parks (Rio Abiselo, San Martin; Yanachaga - Chemillén, Pasco, Tingo Maria, Huanuco, and Manu, Cusco - Mother of God). It is also in vain protection forests (Alto Mayo, San Martin, San Matías - San Carlos, Pasco, and Pui-Pui, Junin).

According to report from the global conservation status by the IUCN, The cock is in state Least Concern according to the IUCN. The conservation of this species can attract significant flows of tourists to areas where it is to observe, and produce income to local people through tourism services.

The cock is not included in the list of Supreme Decree No. 034-2004-AG, but may eventually be part of one of the categories.

Article 1.

Approval of the categorization of threatened wildlife species.

To approve the categorization of threatened wildlife species, consisting of 301 species, 65 mammals, 172 birds, 26 reptiles and 38 amphibians, equally distributed in the following categories: critically endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Vulnerable ( VU) Near Threatened (NT), according to the attached Annex running part hereof