These Birds are Interior Design Experts

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Written by Kellianne Matthews

Published: November 25, 2024

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The flame bowerbird (Sericulus ardens)
Swaroop Pixs/Shutterstock.com

Forget Chip and Joanna Gaines, bowerbirds are the real home renovation stars! These incredible avian artists have a keen eye for color and are masters of interior design, spending countless hours crafting elaborate and stylish bachelor pads to woo potential mates. As seen in the video, we could learn a thing or two about interior design from bowerbirds. Let’s take a closer look, though, at why these birds create these bowers and the various bower styles they create.

Amazing Avian Artists

Satin bowerbird collecting treasures

Some bowerbirds have been known to maintain the same bower for 30 years.

Bowerbirds are named for the intricate structures they design and build, which are called “bowers”. The term “bower” refers to a comfortable and shady spot, which is exactly what these unique birds create. While some bowers look like nests, they are more akin to elaborate display areas. Male bowerbirds construct these ornate bachelor-bowers to attract mates. And female bowerbirds are particularly impressed with elaborate and aesthetically pleasing bowers. 

Bowerbirds are native to Australia and New Guinea. There are at least 20 strikingly different species of bowerbird, and although they share a bower-building prowess, no two species look quite the same. Male satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), for example, have lush, velvet blue plumage, while flame bowerbirds flaunt fiery yellow and orange feathers. Some bowerbirds sport brilliant crests, while others have sleek gray or brown feathers. Females, in contrast, tend to be much less bright and colorful than males. 

Male bowerbirds use their unique and illustrious appearance to attract mates, but this is just one of many weapons in their romantic arsenal. Bowerbirds also sing, dance, and are exceptional interior designers.

Types of Bowers

spotted bowerbird at his bower in Western Queensland, Australia.

Male bowerbirds often try to dismantle or destroy the bowers of their rivals.

To catch the attention of a female bowerbird, a male must construct and design a very impressive bower. These unique structures range in size and complexity, depending on the species and the individual bird. As males gain experience, they refine their techniques. Older males typically have more elaborate bowers. On average, it takes a male bowerbird around seven years to master this craft. Some birds build a new bower each year, while others simply update or remodel their preexisting bower year after year. 

There are three main styles of bower: maypole, avenue, and display court bowers:

  • Maypole bowers are built around one to two central poles, resembling a traditional springtime maypole.
  • Avenue bowers have dome-like walls on either side, framing a narrow tunnel or walkway down the center.
  • Display courts tend to focus more on the flooring of the bower, which is often decorated with upside-down leaves or smooth rocks.

Regardless of the design, male bowerbirds are meticulous decorators. They are very particular in choosing their decor and extremely careful in how they arrange it. These design choices determine the efficacy of their bowers and if they can attract females. In fact, male bowerbirds commonly destroy the bowers of rival males, particularly those that are especially well-designed. 

The Importance of Color

bowerbird nest

Bowers are decorated with meticulously organized objects.

Bowerbirds collect all kinds of materials for their bowers, from natural items like rocks, flowers, leaves, and berries to human-made objects like charcoal or trash. Some especially artistic bowerbirds even paint their bowers, using their beaks to carefully apply saliva, plant juices, or charcoal dust to the walls. 

However, what truly sets bowerbirds apart is their discerning eye for color. Bowerbirds choose a single dominant color for decorating their bowers and collect a variety of items that match this hue. Scientists believe this intentional color choice helps highlight the bird’s own coloring.  

Blue is a popular choice, and a blue-loving bowerbird will collect blue flowers, blueberries, or even blue bottle tops to incorporate into their design. However, there does appear to be some color preference depending on the species. While blue is common, striped gardener bowerbirds (Amblyornis subalaris) often opt for yellow or red, while fawn-breasted bowerbirds (Chlamydera cerviniventris) are quite fond of green. 


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About the Author

Kellianne Matthews

Kellianne Matthews is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on anthrozoology, conservation, human-animal relationships, and animal behavior. Kellianne has been writing and researching animals for over ten years and has decades of hands-on experience working with a variety of different animals. She holds a Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University, which she earned in 2017. A resident of Utah, Kellianne enjoys creating, analyzing movies, and hanging out with her dog and cats.

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