Satin Bowerbird (female or juvenile male)

Description:

This is either a female or juvenile male Satin Bowerbird, the species of which is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an elegant and beautiful bird, and the plumage of this specimen is as equally stunning as that of a mature male. I knew it was a bowerbird because of the violet-blue eyes. The mature male's plumage is a striking glossy blue-black, and the male only develops his satiny sheen after seven years: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/966... Up until this time, the juvenile male possesses the same plumage and colouring as the female. The male Satin Bowerbird is perhaps the best known and well documented of all the bowerbirds in Australia. This fame partially stems from its practice of building and decorating a bower to attract females, and decorating it with bright blue coloured objects that it collects. That can include clothes pegs, bottle caps, you name it - anything blue.

Habitat:

Between drier eucalypt forest and subtropical rainforest on the Box Forest Track, high in the Great Dividing Range at Cunninghams Gap. Moist undergrowth, and reasonably dense foliage of surrounding trees. These photos were taken in a small clearing. They generally prefer wetter forests and woodlands, and surrounding areas. Here's some park info - http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/main-r...

Notes:

My first encounter with the female (or juvenile male) of this species. I saw my first mature male only a few days ago.