About the Spotted Bowerbird
The spotted bowerbird is a sedentary, mid-sized passerine found across broad parts of the drier habitats of eastern Australia. The species is known for its remarkable behaviours, like many other bowerbirds (Ptilonorynchidae), which include bower building and decorating, courtship displays and vocal mimicry. Spotted bowerbirds are locally common, however, overall the population is thought to be in decline.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
At 29 cm in length, spotted bowerbirds are intermediate in size among the bowerbirds, but are rather slim and compact. Spotted bowerbirds are sexually monomorphic, with a pale rufous head that is streaked with grey-brown and a nape adorned with a lilac-pink crest. The upperparts are blackish-brown and marked extensively with amber spots, while the paler underparts are cream with greyish scalloping and barring and a slightly yellow shade to the lower belly and undertail. The bill is black, the eyes dark brown and the legs olive-brown. Spotted bowerbirds have a diverse range of vocalisations.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Spotted Bowerbird lives
When to see the Spotted Bowerbird
Peak activity in September · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Western BowerbirdChlamydera guttataThe western bowerbird is smaller than the other bowerbird it shares its range with, the great bowerbird.
Fawn-breasted BowerbirdChlamydera cerviniventrisThe fawn-breasted bowerbird is a medium-sized, up to 32 cm (13 in) long, bowerbird with a greyish brown spotted white plumage, a black bill, dark brown iris, yellow mouth and an orange buff below.
Yellow-breasted BowerbirdChlamydera lauterbachiThe yellow-breasted bowerbird also known as Lauterbach's bowerbird, is a medium-sized, approximately 27 cm long, bowerbird with a brownish-olive upperparts plumage, grayish-yellow upper breast, coppery crown, dark brown iris, yellow underparts, a black bill and pinkish-orange mouth.
Learn the Spotted Bowerbird in BeakBrain
Photo and call practice, free in any browser.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.