Notes on the Nesting Biology of the Spotted Bowerbird Chlamydera maculata (Ptilonorhynchidae)

Abstract

A nest of the Spotted Bowerbird Chlamydera maculata was studied and its structure, situation, location relative to a bower, eggs, nestlings and their nestling periods described and compared with those of congeners. Results of 55 h of observation of nestling care are presented and discussed. Of 359 identifiable nestling meals 213 were animal and 146 were fruit. Of animal meals, 58% were grasshoppers or crickets, and of fruit meals, 57% were from the Currant Bush Carissa lanceolata. A single parent, presumably female, attended the nest and performed vocal mimicry, particularly of calls of predatory birds. Clutch size and breeding seasons in the Spotted and Western C. guttata Bowerbirds are reviewed.