bowerbird

The bowerbird is a family of birds, Ptilonorhynchidae, found in Australia and New Guinea. They are known for their elaborate courtship displays, particularly the male's construction of a bower. These structures, made from twigs and other materials, are decorated with brightly colored objects such as berries, flowers, shells, and even human-made items like bottle caps and glass fragments. The bower serves as a stage for the male to attract a female, who will assess its quality before deciding whether to mate.

Bowerbirds are omnivorous, feeding on fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. There are 20 known species, ranging in size from the modest satin bowerbird to the larger great bowerbird. Plumage varies among species, with males often being more brightly colored than females, especially when mature. Nest building is the female's responsibility; she constructs a simple cup-shaped nest in a tree or shrub to lay her eggs. Parental care is also solely provided by the female. The complex and varied bower-building behavior of bowerbirds has long fascinated ornithologists and is considered a remarkable example of sexual selection in the animal kingdom.