Western Bowerbird

About the Western Bowerbird

The western bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata) is a species of bird in the family Ptilonorhynchidae. The species is a common endemic of Australia. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in Central Australia and the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

There are two subspecies, the nominate Chlamydera guttata guttata, which occupies most of its range, and C. guttata cateri, which occurs only the North West Cape in Western Australia. The species was first collected in 1861 by the explorer Francis Gregory, who gave the specimen to John Gould. The specific name guttata means spotted, referring to its plumage. The species is similar to Chlamydera maculata, the spotted bowerbird, and has often been treated as a subspecies of it.

The western bowerbird is smaller than the other bowerbird it shares its range with, the great bowerbird. It measures 24–28 cm (9.4–11.0 in) in length and weighs 120–150 g (4.2–5.3 oz). Both sexes are similar in size and dimensions, except that the tail of the female is slightly longer. The plumage is brown with reddish or buff spots over the throat, chest, neck, back, head and wings, with a pink erectile crest on the nape. The tail... Wikipedia →