Tooth Billed Bowerbird

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TOOTH-BILLED BOWERBIRD
Scenopoeetes dentirostris 26 cm

· The Tooth-billed Bowerbird is one of 12 bird species endemic to the Wet Tropics region.

· The display court is simple, comprising a low perch for singing, above an area cleared of litter and decorated with leaves turned pale surface uppermost.

· Also known as the Stagemaker, the Tooth-billed Bowerbird is endemic and
sedentary (does not travel far). It lives in the Atherton Region of Australia between
600 and 1400m altitude.
· It is unlike other bowerbirds as the male bird does not build a bower, but instead,
he clears a small area of land. This is referred to as his stage or his court.

· It is of medium size (24-27cm), olive-brown in colour, and has a dark bill with
notches in it used to cut off leaves for use in decorating his stage.

· The male uses the same area of rainforest floor for constructing his stage as the
year before. It is constructed at the beginning of the breeding season from
October to January.

· The stage may be as large as a 4 x 2m clearing.

· As decorations, he places fresh leaves with their paler sides turned up (to provide
greater contrast on the floor of leaf litter and debris) on the ground. He manages to
detach these leaves from trees by using a difficult gnawing action through their
stems. Up to 180 small leaves may be collected for a single stage, and the males
compete and copy each other to find the biggest or most valuable leaves for their
own use. Some birds prefer large leaves, and those of the wild ginger plant (up to
50cm long) have been seen used. As leaves dry out, or if they become saturated
from the rain, they will be pushed aside to form a pile to the side of the stage.

· The male also has an extensive variety of calls that can be heard throughout the
rainforest at this time to attract females. He often mimics other bird species or
sounds within the rainforest. If he cannot hear one of his neighbours calling, he
may raid their stage and steal their leaves (as this may be quicker than obtaining
one for themselves).

· His vocalisations, displays, stage and decorations must all impress visiting
females if he is to gain a partner.

· The males form what is known as an exploded lek – this is a place where they can
all hear each other and try to attract females to mate. They may mate with many
females in the same season (from October to March). Females depart to lay their
eggs (usually 1 to 2) and raise the young alone.

· A male may spend 95 percent of the day on average singing from his perch, often
2-3m above his stage.

· In winter, the male is inactive and quiet amongst the canopy, and much harder to
see and hear. With no bright patterns on his plumage, he blends in to the canopy.

· They eat fruit, leaves, stems, buds, insects and their larvae.