• Home
  • Itineraries
    • Best of Top End Birding
    • Breakfast with Gouldians
    • Darwin Bird Watching
    • Kimberley Naturalists’ Tour
    • Kakadu Nature’s Way
    • Woodland & Wetland
    • Private Charters
    • Sri-Lanka
    • Indonesia/West Papua
    • Special Offers
  • About
    • Bibliography
    • Guides
    • Minimal Impact Ecotourism
    • Testimonials
    • Newsletters
    • FAQ
  • Birding Info
    • Bird Watching Tips
    • Bird Watching Ethics
    • Best Time to Visit
    • Optics
    • Top End Weather & Seasons
    • Trip Reports
      • 2017 Trip Reports
      • 2016 Trip Reports
      • 2015 Trip Reports
      • 2014 Trip Reports
      • 2013 Trip Reports
  • Wildlife
    • Annotated Birdlist
    • Great Bowerbird
    • Australian Bustard
    • Bugbits
    • Gouldian Finch
    • Pied Heron
    • Rainbow Pitta
    • Orange-footed Scrubfowl
    • Cathedral Termite
    • Species Lists
    • Top End Endemics
    • Where to Watch
  • Ian Morris
    • Introduction
    • Ian's Gallery
    • Nature Notes
  • Gallery
  • Shop
    • Books & Checklists
  • Contact Us
  • Links
    • Australian Birding Tour Operators
    • Darwin Accommodation and Transport
    • Birdwatching and Nature
    • Darwin Information
    • Birding Websites & Blogs
    • Birdwatching Equipment Books
  • Home
  • Itineraries
    • Best of Top End Birding
    • Breakfast with Gouldians
    • Darwin Bird Watching
    • Kakadu Naturalists’ Tour
    • Kakadu Nature’s Way
    • Woodland & Wetland
    • Private Charters
    • Sri-Lanka
    • Indonesia/West Papua
    • Special Offers
  • About
    • Bibliography
    • Guides
    • Minimal Impact Ecotourism
    • Testimonials
    • Newsletters
    • FAQ
  • Birding Info
    • Bird Watching Tips
    • Bird Watching Ethics
    • Best Time to Visit
    • Optics
    • Top End Weather & Seasons
    • Trip Reports
      • 2017 Trip Reports
      • 2016 Trip Reports
      • 2015 Trip Reports
      • 2014 Trip Reports
      • 2013 Trip Reports
  • Wildlife
    • Annotated Birdlist
    • Great Bowerbird
    • Australian Bustard
    • Bugbits
    • Gouldian Finch
    • Pied Heron
    • Rainbow Pitta
    • Orange-footed Scrubfowl
    • Cathedral Termite
    • Species Lists
    • Top End Endemics
    • Where to Watch
  • Ian Morris
    • Introduction
    • Ian's Gallery
    • Nature Notes
  • Gallery
  • Shop
    • Books & Checklists
  • Contact Us
  • Links
    • Australian Birding Tour Operators
    • Darwin Accommodation and Transport
    • Birdwatching and Nature
    • Darwin Information
    • Birding Websites & Blogs
    • Birdwatching Equipment Books

Wildlife Profile - Great Bowerbird Chlamydera nuchalis

Scientific name derivation - Chamydera-Greek, chlamys, mantle; Greek, dere, neck:nuchalis-Latin, naped

Great Bowerbird at bower

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ptilonorhynchidae
Genus: Chlamydera
Species: nuchalis

Great BowerbirdThe largest of the Bowerbirds, builds an 'avenue' type bower, assiduously decorated and maintained. The Bowerbirds are most 'artistic' of birds, capable of arranging their bowers in a precise orderly fashion to achieve a desired effect. Both male and female Great Bowerbirds are accomplished mimics.

 

 

  


Great Bowerbird distribution

Distribution

The Great Bowerbird's range takes in tropical savannah country north of the 20th parallel. 

 

  

 

  


Ecology

Male Great Bowerbird displaying his crest

Diet
Fruits from native fig trees and exotic plants, flowers, nectar, seeds and green vegatables. Also insects and arthropods.

Great Bowerbird Breeding Notes

Life cycle
Polygynous breeders.Male builds a bower (see photo) to attract females, who nest, incubate and feed young with no assistance from the male. Young males frequent successful bowers for some time before building their own bower. Bowers are decorated assiduously and male attends his bower with song, explosive hissing, churring and mimicry, especially when a female is present.

Habitat – Savannah woodlands, riverine forest and mangroves, parks and gardens. Will frequent bird baths.

Best place to see - Fairly common bird in the Top End and around Darwin. Often seen in gardens around the city.

 

 

Sources – Bowerbirds by Clifford and Dawn Frith, my personal observations; Photos © Mike Jarvis

  • TripAdvisor
Proud supporters of


Birdlife Australia
Follow us on
Instagram facebook blogspot
Please click here to Subscribe to our Newsletter
 
 


© 2011-2020 Experiencethewild.com.au

  •  Privacy Policy
  • Site Credits