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Satin Bowerbird (mature male)
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
-28.0537, 152.379
Field Notes
Description:
Satin Bowerbirds are endemic to eastern Australia. They are medium-sized birds, and the adult male has striking glossy blue-black plumage, a pale bill, and awesome violet-blue eyes. The male only develops his satiny sheen after seven years. Up until this time, the juvenile male possesses the same plumage and colouring as the female: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/975936011 The male Satin Bowerbird is perhaps the best known and well documented of all the bowerbirds in Australia. This fame partially stems from its practice of building and decorating a bower to attract females, and decorating it with bright blue coloured objects that it collects. That can include clothes pegs, bottle caps, you name it - anything blue.
Habitat:
Between drier eucalypt forest and subtropical rainforest on the Box Forest Track, high in the Great Dividing Range at Cunninghams Gap. Moist undergrowth, and reasonably dense foliage of surrounding trees. These photos were taken in a small clearing. They generally prefer wetter forests and woodlands, and surrounding areas. Here's some park info - http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/main-range/about.html
Notes:
My first encounter with this species. Perhaps I'll see the bower next time, fingers crossed.
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