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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Ptilonorhynchidae
  4. ›
  5. Ailuroedus
  6. ›
  7. Spotted Catbird
Spotted Catbird
Photo · (c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Spotted Catbird

Ailuroedus maculosusRamsay, EP, 1875

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Ptilonorhynchidae
Genus
Ailuroedus

At a glance

The Spotted Catbird is a medium-sized bird, about 26–30 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
26–30 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 Catbird look like?

The Spotted Catbird is a medium-sized bird, about 26–30 cm long and weighing 168–180 g.

The spotted catbird is a species of bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchidae) which can be found in north Queensland, the eastern Moluccas and New Guinea. Although it is a member of the bowerbird family it does not build a bower.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
26–30 cm
Weight
168–180 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Spotted Catbird?

The Spotted Catbird 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

Donald Davesne · Yungaburra Queensland 4884, Australie

Call

James K. Douch · Eacham, Wooroonooran, AU-QL, AU

Call

jimchurches · Upper Barron QLD 4883, Australia

Call

James K. Douch · Wongabel Trl, Wongabel, QLD, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Spotted Catbird eat?

The Spotted Catbird feeds on fruit, berries, insects and cicadas, usually foraging in forages in rainforest canopy and on ground for fruits using strong bill.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Spotted Catbird live in Australia?

The Spotted Catbird is endemic to Australia, recorded across 4 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-east Cape York Pen., north-east QLD (north-east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Resident

2 regions recorded