Definition

Noun 1. A species of tropical bird (Rupicola rupicola): A passerine bird native to the Guianas and northern Brazil in South America. The male is notable for its brilliant orange or reddish-orange plumage and a distinctive, fan-shaped, erectile crest. It is commonly known as the Guianan cock-of-the-rock.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The brilliant orange plumage of the Rupicola rupicola makes it a spectacular sight in the rainforest.
  • Birdwatchers travel to Guyana in hopes of seeing a male Rupicola rupicola display at its lek.
  • Rupicola rupicola is one of two species in the genus, distinguished by its range and specific plumage details.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific/Ornithological Context: The term is used almost exclusively in formal biological classification and ornithological texts to refer specifically to this species. In common parlance, the bird is referred to by its common name.
  • The study compared the mating displays of Rupicola rupicola with its close relative, Rupicola peruvianus.

Variants and Related Words

• Guianan cock-of-the-rock: The standard English common name for .
• Cock-of-the-rock: A general term for birds of the genus , which includes and the Andean cock-of-the-rock ().
• Rupicola (Genus): The genus name for the two cock-of-the-rock species.

Synonyms

• Guianan cock-of-the-rock

Notes on Meaning

This term has a single, highly specific meaning as the scientific binomial (genus and species) name for a particular bird. It is not used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.

Noun

1. tropical bird of northern South America the male having brilliant red or orange plumage and an erectile disklike crest