Bird guideTooth-billed Bowerbird

Calls include wide range of whistles, hisses, and squeaks; known to mimic other birds.

⚠️Not listed

At a glance

FamilyBowerbirds
SizeSmall
RarityUncommon
HabitatMedium-sized, chunky rainforest bird, found in a small area of higher-elevation rainforest in coastal northern Queensland.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from October to November.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Peter Boesman

Range map

Range map

90visible hotspots
7695visible records
1states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Medium-sized, chunky rainforest bird, found in a small area of higher-elevation rainforest in coastal northern Queensland. Dark brown upperparts and pale underparts with blurry brown streaking. Bill has serration that resembles teeth. Male clears a section of rainforest floor and decorates it with fresh green leaves when breeding.

Behavior

Its diet consists mainly of fruits and young leaves of forest trees. The male is polygamous and builds a display-court or "stage-type bower" (hence the alternate name stagemaker), decorated with fresh green leaves laid with their pale undersides facing up. The leaves are collected by the male by chewing through the leaf stalk and old leaves are removed from the display-court.

Regional timing

Queensland
Peak: October to November7,695 records
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