Cock of the Rock (painting)

Oil on linen mounted on stretcher.

1200 x 1600 mm

*Also available as a print edition. Sheet size: 1400 x 1800 mm

( 100 mm allowance for stretching ) Edition size: 50

The Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola rupicola) is a South American bird described by Linneaus in 1766. The genericand specific names are derived from the Latin words rupes; ”rock” or "cliff", and cola "inhabiting", which express its habit of nesting on rock walls. Its preferred habitats are humid forests near rocky outcrops and makes its nest on rocky cliff faces and caves rather than in trees. The female lays one or two eggs in the nest of mud and plant material, which is attached by saliva to a vertical rock. Its diet consists mainly of fruit but also small snakes, lizards and frogs. Male Guianan cock-of-the-rock "delight in homosexuality" with almost 40 percent engaging in a form of homosexual activity and a small percentage never copulating with females. Natural enemies include ocelot, eagles and snakes.