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Bowerbirds |
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The Bowerbirds and Catbirds belong to a family of some 19 species of birds restricted to Australia and New Guinea. They are mainly found in the rainforests, however, a few have adapted to the drier tropical and central woodlands of Australia. Bowerbirds are so named because of the bowers that the males build for courtship. The males display near their structure to attract females. Many also collect objects, some species favouring particular colours. Objects may be natural, such as leaves, flowers, berries, or unnatural, including balloons, pens, string or straws. Some in this family may not build bowers, but merely present stages near which they call to attract females. And there are some in the family, the catbirds, that have not yet been recorded to build any structures. The calls of the Bowerbirds and Catbirds are usually quite distinct, with strange, often mechanically sounding clicking, buzzing and chirping. Greater Bowerbird Bower with white shells and bones
The catbirds are not related to the American 'Gray Catbird' which is in the same family as the mockingbirds, Mimidae. However, like that bird, it is named for their cat-like calls. They live in the same patch of forest year after year, and these loud wailing calls are to establish this territory. They are coloured a very pretty bright leaf green on the upperparts, and have scaled breasts.  Spotted Catbird
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