Western Bowerbird
Scientific Name: Ptilonorhynchus guttatus
Size: 24 to 28 cm
What does it look like?
The Western Bowerbird is shy and wary and its cryptic ochre-brown and heavily spotted plumage allows it perfect camouflage within tree foliage. It is somewhat similar to the Spotted Bowerbird of eastern and central Australia, and the two species share much of the same habits.
Where is it found?
The Western Bowerbird is endemic to Australia. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in Central Australia and the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
What are its habitats & habits?
The Western Bowerbird feeds mainly on fruits, including those of the Rock Fig (Ficus platypoda), Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum), Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) and mistletoe (family Loranthaceae). Other foods include nectar, flowers (Acacia spp.), insects such as moths, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders. It drinks regularly and is seldom found far from water. Small groups commonly visit orchards and homesteads to feed on cultivated fruits and vegetables.
Interesting facts
For many years, the Western Bowerbird was regarded as a subspecies of the Spotted Bowerbird.
This species features in my book Australia’s Birdwatching Megaspots
