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Difference between revisions of "Western Bowerbird" - BirdForum Opus

(Additional scientific name. GSearch amended to allow for it.)
(Picture of a bower. References updated)
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'''Alternative names: Guttated Bowerbird; Pale-spotted Bowerbird; Yellow-spotted Bowerbird; Large-spotted Bowerbird'''
 
[[Image:Western_Bowerbird.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Mike+Bouette|Mike Bouette}}<br />Yeelirrie Station, [[Australia]], August 2006]]
 
[[Image:Western_Bowerbird.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Mike+Bouette|Mike Bouette}}<br />Yeelirrie Station, [[Australia]], August 2006]]
'''Alternative names: Guttated Bowerbird; Pale-spotted Bowerbird; Yellow-spotted Bowerbird; Large-spotted Bowerbird'''
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;[[:Category:Chlamydera|Chlamydera]] guttata
 
;[[:Category:Chlamydera|Chlamydera]] guttata
 
''Ptilonorhynchus guttatus''
 
''Ptilonorhynchus guttatus''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
28cm.
+
28cm (11 in)
 
* Rufous-buff head with black feather margins, crown with glossy silvery-white sheen
 
* Rufous-buff head with black feather margins, crown with glossy silvery-white sheen
* Pale to bright pink erectile filamentous nuchal crest
+
* Pale to bright pink erectile filamentous [[Dictionary_M-O#N|nuchal]] crest
 
* Blackish-brown to blackish upperparts and upperwings with bold terminal or subterminal clay-coloured rounded feather spotting
 
* Blackish-brown to blackish upperparts and upperwings with bold terminal or subterminal clay-coloured rounded feather spotting
* Blackish-brown to blackish chin, throat, ear-coverts and upper breast with clay-coloured spotting
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* Blackish-brown to blackish chin, throat, ear-[[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]] and upper breast with clay-coloured spotting
 
* Dirty buff rest of underparts
 
* Dirty buff rest of underparts
 
* Dark brown eye
 
* Dark brown eye
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Generally uncommon.  
 
Generally uncommon.  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
May form a superspecies with [[Spotted Bowerbird]] and has been considered conspecific in the past.
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====Subspecies====
 
Two subspecies recognized:
 
Two subspecies recognized:
 
* ''C. g. carteri'' in North West Cape, [[Western Australia]]
 
* ''C. g. carteri'' in North West Cape, [[Western Australia]]
* ''C. g. guttata'' in [[Western Australia]], southern [[Northern Territory]] and nortwest [[South Australia]]
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* ''C. g. guttata'' in [[Western Australia]], southern [[Northern Territory]] and north-west [[South Australia]]
May form a superspecies with [[Spotted Bowerbird]] and has been considered conspecific in the past.
+
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Riverine woodland, scrub thickets, often in rocky ranges and gorges. Visits gardens around human habitation. Occurs from sea-level up to 500m.
 
Riverine woodland, scrub thickets, often in rocky ranges and gorges. Visits gardens around human habitation. Occurs from sea-level up to 500m.
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Feeds mainly on fruits (particulary rock figs). Takes also flowers, seeds, buds, nectar and arthropods.
 
Feeds mainly on fruits (particulary rock figs). Takes also flowers, seeds, buds, nectar and arthropods.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
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[[Image:01101.jpg|thumb|350px|right|A bower<br />Photo by {{user|Tiger1|Tiger1}}<br />[[Western Australia]], 1991]]
 
Breeding season from July to March, display peaking from August to December. A [[Dictionary_P-S#P|polygynous]] species. The male builds and attends a bower to attract females. They build a nest alone and also breed alone.<br />
 
Breeding season from July to March, display peaking from August to December. A [[Dictionary_P-S#P|polygynous]] species. The male builds and attends a bower to attract females. They build a nest alone and also breed alone.<br />
 
The avenue-type bower is quite large. It's decoration varies geographically, it includes bone fragments, snail shells, green fruits, pebbles and many other items including human-made ones. Theft or even desctruction of bower by other male occurs. When the female arrives the male performs a courtship display.<br />
 
The avenue-type bower is quite large. It's decoration varies geographically, it includes bone fragments, snail shells, green fruits, pebbles and many other items including human-made ones. Theft or even desctruction of bower by other male occurs. When the female arrives the male performs a courtship display.<br />
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==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug15}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==

Revision as of 19:36, 2 September 2015

Alternative names: Guttated Bowerbird; Pale-spotted Bowerbird; Yellow-spotted Bowerbird; Large-spotted Bowerbird

Photo by Mike Bouette
Yeelirrie Station, Australia, August 2006
Chlamydera guttata

Ptilonorhynchus guttatus

Identification

28cm (11 in)

  • Rufous-buff head with black feather margins, crown with glossy silvery-white sheen
  • Pale to bright pink erectile filamentous nuchal crest
  • Blackish-brown to blackish upperparts and upperwings with bold terminal or subterminal clay-coloured rounded feather spotting
  • Blackish-brown to blackish chin, throat, ear-coverts and upper breast with clay-coloured spotting
  • Dirty buff rest of underparts
  • Dark brown eye
  • Blackish bill
  • Olive-brown legs
Male in bower
Photo by Neil
Alice Springs, Australia, April 2004

Female like male but without pink crest (older females may have a small one). Juveniles undescribed, immatures without crest.

Similar species

Much darker than similar Spotted Bowerbird.

Distribution

Central Australia and the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Generally uncommon.

Taxonomy

May form a superspecies with Spotted Bowerbird and has been considered conspecific in the past.

Subspecies

Two subspecies recognized:

Habitat

Riverine woodland, scrub thickets, often in rocky ranges and gorges. Visits gardens around human habitation. Occurs from sea-level up to 500m.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds mainly on fruits (particulary rock figs). Takes also flowers, seeds, buds, nectar and arthropods.

Breeding

A bower
Photo by Tiger1
Western Australia, 1991

Breeding season from July to March, display peaking from August to December. A polygynous species. The male builds and attends a bower to attract females. They build a nest alone and also breed alone.
The avenue-type bower is quite large. It's decoration varies geographically, it includes bone fragments, snail shells, green fruits, pebbles and many other items including human-made ones. Theft or even desctruction of bower by other male occurs. When the female arrives the male performs a courtship display.
Following mating, females construct nests of a shallow bowl of dead twigs, placed in a low bush or tree. 1- 2 eggs are laid.

Movements

A resident species. Some local wandering may occur.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507

Recommended Citation

External Links

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