MacGregor's Bowerbird
Other common names: Crested/Gardener/Mocha-breasted Bowerbird, Crested/MacGregor's Gardenerbird; Huon Bowerbird (germana)
Taxonomy: Amblyornis macgregoriae De Vis, 1890, Musgrave Range, 7000-9000 ft [c. 2130-2740 m], south-east New Guinea.
Brown with lighter head and under-parts; distinctive long red crest.
Not threatened
Common and widespread throughout range.
Amblyornis macgregoriae is a medium-sized, up to 26 cm long, olive brown bowerbird of New Guinea's mountain forests, roughly the size and shape of a robin. They are brown with lighter head and under-parts; distinctive long crest.The male is adorned with an erectile orange yellow crest, that is partly hidden until shown in courtship display. The unadorned female is similar to the male, but without the crest. Superb mimics, they are known for imitating other birds, pigs, rushing water, and even human speech.
Traditional bower sites are regularly and linearly spaced along forested ridges. The maypole bower consists of a conical tower of sticks built about a sapling or tree fern trunk surrounded at its base by a circular moss mat raised at its circumference into an elevated rim. Bower may be used for 20 or more years. Decorations include insect frass, charcoal, fungus, tree resin, mammal dung, fruits, and leaves. Bowers maintained for nine to ten months annually, with peak display during August through December. Advertisement vocalizations include harsh tearing sounds, growls, thuddings, tappings, whistles, and much vocal mimicry including human-made sounds.
26 cm; female 104–140 g, male 100–145 g
Taxonomy: Amblyornis macgregoriae De Vis, 1890, Musgrave Range, 2130-2740 m, south-east New Guinea. Has hybridized with A. subalaris. Race germana, bowers of at least some of which differ from those typical of species, possibly represents a separate species. Seven subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- mayri E. J. O. Hartert, 1930 - W & C New Guinea (Weyland Mts E to W Hindenburg Mts).
- kombok Schodde & McKean, 1973 - E New Guinea probably from at least Strickland R (possibly from Hindenberg Range) E to Mt Hagen, Kubor Range, Bismarck Range and Kratke Range.
- lecroyae C. B. Frith & D. W. Frith, 1997 - Mt Bosavi, in EC New Guinea.
- amati T. K. Pratt, 1982 - Adelbert Mts, in NE New Guinea.
- germana Rothschild, 1910 - mountains of Huon Peninsula, in NE New Guinea.
- macgregoriae De Vis, 1890 - SE New Guinea from W Kukukuku and Herzog Range E to W Owen Stanley Range.
- nubicola Schodde & McKean, 1973 - E Owen Stanley Range (Mt Dayman and Mt Simpson massifs, and probably E from Mt Suckling), inextreme SE New Guinea.
Primary tall mixed montane and Nothofagus rainforest.
Primarily frugivorous, taking fruits from numerous trees, shrubs, and vines. Also eats flower parts and insects.
Polygynous, with promiscuous adult males and exclusively female nest attendance. Breeding season variable across the species range. Typically builds bulky open cup nest in pandanus tree crown 6.6–10 ft (2–3 m) above ground. Nest is composed of a sparse stick foundation, a leafy cup, and an eggcup lining of supple twiglets/rootlets. Lays a single, pale, unmarked, buff egg. One known incubation period was over 17 days. Nestling period unknown.