Satin Bower Bird ( Ptilonorhynchus violaceus )

Male Satin Bower Bird at bower, Lamington National Park

Photograph by ozwildlife. Some rights reserved.

Male tending bower at Lamington National Park

Photograph by ozwildlife. Some rights reserved.

Male bird is at the bower, green female is on the branch above bower, Lamington National Park

Photograph by ozwildlife. Some rights reserved.

Immature Male at Walkabout Creek, Brisbane Forest Park

Photograph by ozwildlife. Some rights reserved.

Female, Bunya Mountains National Park

Photograph by ozwildlife. Some rights reserved.

Female at Lamington National Park

Photograph by ozwildlife. Some rights reserved.

SATIN BOWER BIRD FACTS

distribution map showing range of Ptilonorhynchus violaceus in Australia

Description
The male Satin Bower Bird is jet black with bluish sheen. Female is olive green. Immature males like females, and attain adult plumage after about 5 years. The male builds bower of two parallel rows of twigs and decorated with blue objects such as Rosella feathers, flowers and blue pieces of plastic.

Size
25 - 30cm

Environment
Rainforest, thick coastal scrubs.

Food
fruit, berries, insects

Breeding
Nest is saucer of twigs 5-10m up a tree. 2 pale brown eggs.

Range
Coastal areas where rainfall is high.

Classification

Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Ptilonorhynchidae
Genus:	Ptilonorhynchus
Species:	violaceus
Common Name:	Satin Bower Bird