Macgregor's bowerbird
Amblyornis macgregoriae
TAXONOMY
Amblyornis macgregoriae De Vis, 1890, Musgrave River, Papua New Guinea. Seven subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Macgregor's gardenerbird, gardener bowerbird, crested gardener bird, yellow-crested gardener; French: Jardinier de Macgregor; German: Goldhaubengärtner; Spanish: Capulinero de Macgregor.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
10.2 in (26 cm); female 0.23–0.31 lb (104–140 g), male 0.22–0.32 lb (100–145 g). Brown with lighter head and under-parts; distinctive long red crest.
DISTRIBUTION
Endemic to mountains of eastern and central New Guinea; widespread on central cordillera, west to Weyland Mountains,
Irian Jaya, and on the Adelbert Range, the Huon Peninsula, and Mount Bosavi. Occurs mostly at 5,250–7,540 ft (1,600–2,300 m) altitude. A. m. macgregoriae: W. Kukukuku and Herzog Range east to western Owen Stanley Range; A. m. mayri: Weyland Mountains, Irian Jaya, to eastern Star/western Hindenburg Mountains; Amblyornis m. lecroyae: Mount Bosavi; A. m. kombok: Kubor, Hagen, and Bismarck Ranges, probably west to at least Strickland River or Hindenberg Range and east to Kraetke Range; A. m. amati: Adelbert Mountains; A. m. germanus: Huon Peninsula; A. m. nubicola: Simpson-Dayman massifs, eastern Owen Stanley Range, probably west to Mount Suckling.
HABITAT
Primary tall mixed montane and Nothofagus rainforest.
BEHAVIOR
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.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Primarily frugivorous, taking fruits from numerous trees, shrubs, and vines. Also eats flower parts and insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
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.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Common and widespread throughout range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Papuans admire the industry/artistry of males at their bowers. By placing a leaf on a bower mat, men and women used the bower mat clearing behavior of males to indicate to them in which direction they might seek a spouse. Crests of adult males may be worn as personal adornment.
