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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Ptilonorhynchidae
  4. ›
  5. Chlamydera
  6. ›
  7. Spotted Bowerbird
Spotted Bowerbird
Photo · (c) Alan Bell, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Spotted Bowerbird

Chlamydera maculata(Gould, 1837)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Ptilonorhynchidae
Genus
Chlamydera

At a glance

The Spotted Bowerbird is a medium-sized bird, about 27–31 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
27–31 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Spotted Bowerbird look like?

The Spotted Bowerbird is a medium-sized bird, about 27–31 cm long and weighing 108–169 g.

The spotted bowerbird is a sedentary, mid-sized passerine found across broad parts of the drier habitats of eastern Australia. The species is known for its remarkable behaviours, like many other bowerbirds (Ptilonorynchidae), which include bower building and decorating, courtship displays and vocal mimicry. Spotted bowerbirds are locally common, however, overall the population is thought to be in decline.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
27–31 cm
Weight
108–169 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Spotted Bowerbird?

The Spotted Bowerbird is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

jaimshae · Trundle NSW 2875, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Spotted Bowerbird eat?

The Spotted Bowerbird feeds on fruit, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Spotted Bowerbird live in Australia?

The Spotted Bowerbird is endemic to Australia, recorded across 28 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingQLD (except Cape York Pen.) and NSW (east and south-east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

7 regions recorded