Western bowerbird

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Western bowerbird

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ptilonorhynchidae
Genus: Chlamydera
Species:
C. guttata
Binomial name
Chlamydera guttata
Gould, 1862
Synonyms

Chlamydodera guttata

The western bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata) is a species of

distribution, occurring in Central Australia and the Pilbara region of Western Australia.[2]

Taxonomy

There are two subspecies, the nominate Chlamydera guttata guttata, which occupies most of its range, and C. guttata cateri, which occurs only the

Chlamydera maculata, the spotted bowerbird, and has often been treated as a subspecies of it.[2]

Description

The western bowerbird is smaller than the other bowerbird it shares its range with, the great bowerbird. It measures 24–28 cm (9.4–11.0 in) in length and weighs 120–150 g (4.2–5.3 oz). Both sexes are similar in size and dimensions, except that the tail of the female is slightly longer.[2] The plumage is brown with reddish or buff spots over the throat, chest, neck, back, head and wings, with a pink erectile crest on the nape.[3] The tail is brown and the undersides are buff. The plumage of the female is similar to the male but more spotted on the throat.[2]

Diet

The western bowerbird feeds on fruits, particularly those of the rock fig (Ficus platypoda), sandalwood, snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) and mistletoes. They also enter farms to feed on cultivated fruits. Other items taken in the diet include nectar, flowers, insects (e.g. ants, moths, beetles and grasshoppers), and spiders. They need to drink regularly and are rarely found far from water.[2]

Behaviour

Western bowerbirds build bowers similar to the picture above.

Like most bowerbirds the western bowerbird is

calls; when the female arrives to inspect he will perform ritualised dances, fanning his tail, jumping and wing flicking, as well as further calling. Decorations will also be held in the bill and shaken vigorously, and the pink crest on the neck will be erected.[2]

The female constructs the nest, a shallow cup of small twigs nested on a larger platform of sticks, around 2–6 m (6.6–19.7 ft) up a tree or shrub, often in a clump of mistletoe. The clutch is usually one or two eggs, which are green to buff, glossy and covered in dark scribble patterns. The incubation period is unknown.[2]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22703682A93932670.en
    . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0-643-09420-8
    .
  3. ISBN 0-207-19821-7
    .
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