Satin Bowerbirds are native to Australia. The birds pictured here are females. Males are dark black, but have the same startling blue eyes.
Bowerbirds are named after the elaborate stick structures called bowers that males build to attract a mate.
They use found objects, to decorate their bowers, the flashier and bluer, the better!
Females inspect the bowers, while the males dance near them, and females choose their mate based both on the dance and the bower.
Bowers are decorated with anything colorful the birds find, like pens, buttons, blue plastic, blue balloons, blue bottle caps, blue feathers etc. There have a definite preference for blue colors that match their eyes!
I am impressed with any guy who will not only build a house for his mate, but shop till he drops to decorate it, and dance for her too!
Wow!
I didn’t find any bowers in Australia, but here is an image of a bower that I found on The San Diego Zoo’s website.
Photo Source: San Diego Zoo.org
Cheers to you from the lucky female Australian Bowerbirds~
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Beautiful photos. Looks like a real character.
Yes, very friendly and outgoing birds that landed on our picnic table!
Architecture and interior design at their together best!
I’ve heard of this bird, and these are pics I’ll remember!
Thanks, Cindy!
A guy that dances, decorates, and builds you a house, kind of puts dinner and fine wine in its place doesn’t it!!! 😉
Great photos. In my (zoo) images of the Satin Bowerbird the eyes look all blue. In yours, they seem to be blue irises. I’ve only got one very poor shot of a male and have never seen their bower so I was pleased you inserted a link showing one.
These ladies just landed on the picnic table and helped themselves to mango! I love them ღ
They are very beautiful birds Cindy, I’ve had them living around me in groups but I’ve never seen an active nest. I think he tends to nest in slightly more remote places further away from homes so us humans won’t disturb his ‘chatting up the ladies’ boudoir 😂
The dance would be so fascinating to see. They are such outgoing birds and I think you are right about the nests.
Remarkable quality in your photos! Those eyes are mesmerizing. Kudos to the male for taking such good care of the lady of the house (nest).
Thank you, and yes! He is most impressive isn’t he! ღ
A smart species! She has beautiful blue eyes too. Great images and thank you for introducing Satin Bowerbirds 😊
I am pleased to make the introduction Indah & happy you liked her my friend ღ
Isn’t nature amazing? Thanks for posting this interesting article.
You are most welcome and yes, nature is amazing!
The eyes are just the coolest! I love how your photos are so crisp that we can see every barbule of the feathers!
So happy you are seeing the details & thank you Teresa ❧
Those lovely greenish feathers, and glorious bright eyes — no wonder the males go to such trouble! Thanks for this delightful post, Cindy. Hugs on the wing!
Hugs back to you Teagan & hope you are doing well my friend ❧
Having trouble with following your blog 🙁 I follow then I visit and must follow again sorry.
They are striking birds. Love those blue eyes!
Those eyes! Such beautiful birds. Thanks for sharing these great photos. 🙂
I was just reading that they have a complex social structure. I am certain that they have a language, much like crows and ravens. Ah, we live in a beautiful world, do we not?!! A wonderful post to begin my weekend. Hugs1
Hugs to you and Happy Easter Rebecca ღ
Reblogging this to my readers at sister site Poetic Justice
Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful creatures & cheers to you ღ
Cheers back, dearie
დ დ
Pingback: Satin Bowerbirds – Poetic Justice
Thank you for spreading the word on these incredible creatures! ღ
I like the male bowerbird’s attitude. Beautiful post, Cindy.
Yes. He is one wise bird ღ
What eyes.. in the male they must really be startling. sends hugs and warm greetings your way
Yes, both the males and females are unique and stunning birds. Hugs and well wishes back to you დ
These are some lovely ladies with those blue eyes and variegated plumage. Thanks for providing the additional information about their behavior. I found it fascinating!
I am glad you did, thank you, and hope you are staying safe and well Liz დ
What an interesting and industrious bird. Such bowers! Plus, dressed to impress; the colors and pattern of her breast feathers and those startling eyes are beautiful! Thank you, Cindy!
Thank you for appreciating her. I think she is quite amazing too! დ
Ooohh….I just love these Satin ‘Powerbirds’, my dear friend! ♥♥ ♥⸜₍๑•⌔•๑ ₎⸝♥ ♥ ♥
They are pretty amazing aren’t they! Stay safe my friend დ
♡♡ㄱ(ㅇㅅㅇ” )ㄴ♡♡
(ෆຶдෆຶ)
Happy Easter, my friend! ／(=⌒x⌒=)＼
Visa versa 2U <3
Those eyes are like costume jewellery — bright and beautiful but somehow unreal…I followed the link to see the bower nest, an amazing construction. I was also struck by the number of blue bottle tops and what looked like blue straws surrounding it.
Yes, fascinating to wonder why such brilliant blue? In their eyes and the objects they select to decorate?
How pretty, and those eyes!😍
Quite striking aren’t they! დ
Beautiful 👍👌👌
Thank you Nidhi დ
Beautiful photos Cindy. I’ve been lucky enough to see the bowers in the wild. The male is gorgeous, and I believe he does all the child rearing on his own too
Sorry got that wrong. The female raises the young on her own, the male takes off and leaves her to it…
Yes, laughing, but he does dance, decorate and build her that house…… 😉 Hope you and Jack are both well დ
Your photographs are exquisite in every detail. You have a natural way of educating us all about these interesting birds too.
I am touched by you thoughtfulness. Thank you Anne & be well. (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Wow! Those are fascinating and beautiful birds not to mention the intricate nests they build. Thanks for bringing those to us.
Thank you more for appreciating them & Happy Easter Marlene (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Happy Easter, Cindy.
Happy & Safe Easter Marlene ໒( ♥ ◡ ♥ )७
Thank you, Cindy. Same to you.
დ დ
I can only say, thank you, and ‘Brilliant’, Cindy.
Awww, thank you my friend & Happy Easter! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Oh my goodness, what regal birds! LOVE those eyes. Love that bower, too!
So happy you like them. The males can spend up to two months building those bowers! So impressive. (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Wow. Nothing like a handsome guy building you a house (fanning myself). LOL!
It totally works for me too!!! ໒( ♥ ◡ ♥ )७
Beautiful photos Cindy.❤
Thank you my friend & be well! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Such beautiful birds with those amazing blue eyes, Cindy 😀
They are just striking aren’t they! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Fabulous photos and such colourful birds Cindy
Thank you & so pleased you enjoyed them Sheree! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Tolle Aufnahmen meine liebe Freundin. Frohe Ostern dir…
Frohe Ostern mein lieber Freund Ernst! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Lovely blue eyes and a beautiful artistic nest. Shame that all blue things they find is actually plastic rubbish. It is nice though to decorate with blue, my colour also. 🙂
Yes. Too much plastic in this world. At least they are recycling it! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
A-mazing!
A-greed! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Pictures from Cindy Knoke of the Australian Bowerbirds.
Thank you for sharing & caring Patrica & Happy Easter my friend (ෆຶдෆຶ)
machen wir es uns gemütlich, wo auch immer zum Nutzen Aller, Klaus
Ja! Sei sicher und gesund, mein lieber Freund. (ෆຶдෆຶ)
I’ve always been a lover of brown eyes myself. But I have to say, those blue eyes grab your attention. And I’m doubly impressed with the house building. These fellas know how to put some effort into impressing/attracting their mate. I wonder if they keep it up after they win her heart?
The males can spend up to two months making and decorating the bower, but once mating occurs, the female incubates and cares for the young by herself. Ah well, no one is perfect!! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Well, as in our own species, sometimes things change. But at least he built her something lovely to shelter in.
He did indeed. Happy Easter Colleen ໒( ♥ ◡ ♥ )७
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing and hope you and your family are safe.
Thank you Frank. I hope the same for you and yours <3
Wow, I’ve never seen a bird, or any animal for that fact with eyes as stunning as those!
Great post 🙂 x
I agree with you, the eye color, in contrast to the plumage, is completely unique. (ෆຶдෆຶ)
It’s incredible!
You’re so lucky to see such a stunning sight 🙂 x
Thank you & I am happy you enjoyed these beautiful creatures! დ
Very much so x
♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Very beautiful bird ❤️ Thank you for sharing 🕊️ Happy Holidays!
Thank you for appreciating them & Happy Holidays to you! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Splendid photographs with fascinating, informative, text
You are a kind and appreciated friend Derrick! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
🙂
Those eyes!
I know! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Wow, love those eyes! And I agree, that is one impressive male provider. 😉
The male bowerbirds could do TED Talks for human audiences!!! 😉
As many said, those blue eyes and I also love her bottom feathers all the way down to her legs too. The pattern on the features and the shape of the legs look like hawk’s.
Yes, there is a hawk-like pattern in the plumage. How perceptive of you to see this! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Sometimes I wonder if I live under a rock. I’ve never even heard of these birds, let alone see one. Your photos are magical — up close, clear, and revealing. I love this post!
I am touched by your very kind words. Thank you. One of life’s greatest gifts is the endless opportunities it presents to learn new things along the way! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
How beautiful they are! 🙂
Yes, happy you think so! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
I love the colors and patterns on the female’s chest and their blue eyes. Dancing and housebuilding are for the birds! 😜
Laughing…..and these are the reasons birds are for me! (ෆຶдෆຶ)
Laughing is good! Actually I love dancing and birds too. 🙂
This is why we are friends Brad! ໒( ♥ ◡ ♥ )७
😋
Although I’ve seen photos and videos online about bowerbirds and the males’ behaviors, I’ve never seen photos that compare with yours! What beautiful birds! These shots of the females are just stunning – and their blue eyes are amazing!
Ahhhh, I am honored by your thoughtful comment. Thank you very much & be well (ෆຶдෆຶ)
What a treat. You never cease to amaze, with your gorgeous and loving photographs. I can only wonder what it’s like to have eyes that blue. Wow! Incredible color. I love that the males have to woo the females and she females get to pick the prettiest home and the most dedicated male. 🙂 I saw a PBS program on them and the males try so hard. Dancing and decorating. 🙂 Thank you.
Awwww, I am so lucky to have friends like you! Stay safe my friend & Happy Easter (ෆຶдෆຶ)