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Satin Bowerbird

(Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)
Size: 28-34 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Satin Bowerbirds are found along the east coast of the Australian continent. The range of nominate race "violaceus" extends from near Melbourne, VIC, along the south and east coast and the Great Dividing Range, through all of NSW. To the north of the Clarence River in northern NSW, they are not found on the coast, but only the eastern slopes of the ranges, up to just south of Rockhampton, QLD. Race "minor" is found on the tablelands around Cairns, QLD, from about Daintree National Park to Wooroonooran National Park.

Satin Bowerbirds can be found in and around rainforest and wet, tall forest, sometimes also in dry dense forest.

Twitcher's tip

A bower is NOT a nest - it is a male bird's courting alley. Nests, built by female birds, are in fact kept well away from bowers.

Sightings

We have spotted Satin Bowerbirds in Dorrigo National Park, NSW, and also west of Dorrigo, in the hills in 2005, 2006 and during visits in subsequent years. Also seen in Bald Rock National Park in October 2007.

Large numbers of Satin Bowerbirds were seen in July 2009 at Dandabah, Bunya Mountains National Park, QLD. This fact in itself is interesting, because this loaction is on the western edge of, if not outside, the species' general range.

Photos

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Male Satin Bowerbird

Male Satin Bowerbird; different posture

Male Satin Bowerbird in its bower

One of many Satin Bowerbird feeding on the lawn of a camping ground at Bunya Mountains National Park, QLD

Female Satin Bowerbird

Different view of the same bird

Here a female bird seen preening

Lateral view of a female Satin Bowerbird kindly contributed by Y. English

Back of a female Satin Bowerbird

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Solitary

The male Bowerbird builds a bower from twigs that it finds on the ground and tries to lure the female into its lair with its wooing display.

Overview of the bower

Close-up view of the blue trinkets

Close-up view of the twigs

Note the blue trinkets, which are arranged in a certain pattern. In one of the photos above the male is rearranging the position of a blue feather. Since it has blue eyes, it is obvious what is considered "beautiful" by female Bowerbirds.