Bowerbirds (Australian Natural History Series)

The bowerbirds (family Ptilonorhynchidae) are renowned for their unique bower-building behaviour. Many species are also accomplished mimics, able to copy the calls of other bird species, other natural and mechanical sounds, and even human speech. The 20 existing species are almost equally divided between Australia and New Guinea, with eight species endemic to Australia, 10 to New Guinea, and two species occurring in both regions.

Due to the difficulty in accessing certain areas of their distribution, the study of bowerbirds' habits has been challenging. However, Bowerbirds condenses published knowledge into a format that will suit natural history enthusiasts at any level. While the emphasis is on Australian members of the family, with detailed accounts on each of the 10 species, the New Guinea representatives are discussed in general chapters and are included in a supplemental section that covers key areas such as breeding, identification, and distribution.

In some species, the bower can be a complex construction of sticks and other vegetable matter that can grow to two metres in diameter and one-and-a-half metres high. This book also includes more than 50 illustrations, including colour pictures of each Australian species, their bowers, displays, and distributional maps.

The bowerbirds are confined to Australia and New Guinea, and their unique behaviour and adaptations have long fascinated naturalists and birdwatchers alike. Bowerbirds offers a comprehensive and accessible exploration of these remarkable birds, providing both detailed information and stunning visual representations to enhance the reader's understanding and appreciation of these avian architects.

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