Head to head
Three-wattled Bellbird vs Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Three-wattled Bellbird
VS Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Both are cotinga-family birds known for extreme courtship ornamentation, but one relies on sound while the other stages a visual performance.
| Three-wattled Bellbird | Andean Cock-of-the-rock | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Procnias tricarunculatus | Rupicola peruvianus |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Signature display | Explosively loud call | Communal lek dance |
| Distinguishing feature | Three dangling fleshy wattles | Oversized half-moon crest |
| Range | Central America | Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia |
| Body colour | White head, chestnut-brown body | Blazing orange to scarlet |
| Migration | Altitudinal migrant | Not specifically migratory |
| Diet | Mainly fruit | Mainly fruit, some insects and small vertebrates |
Three-wattled Bellbird vs Andean Cock-of-the-rock: common questions
Which bird relies on sound for its display and which relies on sight?
The three-wattled bellbird relies on sound, producing one of the loudest bird calls on Earth, while the Andean cock-of-the-rock relies on visual display, gathering at a lek to perform bobbing and bowing dances.
Which bird is more threatened?
The three-wattled bellbird is, classified as Vulnerable due to deforestation across its migratory range, compared to the Least Concern Andean cock-of-the-rock.
How can you tell these two birds apart?
The three-wattled bellbird shows a white head and chestnut-brown body with three dangling wattles, while the Andean cock-of-the-rock displays blazing orange to scarlet plumage topped by an oversized crest.