Fawn-breasted Bowerbird

1. Sexes look identical, both with orange-cinnamon wash on underparts

2. Fine streaking on throat and upper breast

3. Greyish-brown plumage with white spots and a black bill

These birds are omnivorous, feeding mainly on figs, fruits, insects, nectar, and seeds. Males build avenue-type bowers on the ground, using two parallel walls of sticks and decorating them, often exclusively with green items like berries. Breeding occurs from September to December. The female builds a loose cup nest high in a tree and lays a single egg, which she incubates alone. Males do not help raise the young. Bower building and courtship displays featuring mimicry and complex calls are essential for attracting mates.

Look for Fawn-breasted Bowerbirds in tropical forests, mangroves, woodland edges, and gallery forests across the tip of Cape York Peninsula and southern New Guinea. They prefer areas where dense vegetation meets open country, including Melaleuca swamps. Early morning is best for sightings, especially around fruiting trees. Their harsh, varied calls and mimicry can help locate them, and finding a decorated bower often leads to seeing the bird nearby.