The bird that builds an art gallery to win a mate
This bird builds an entire art gallery and arranges it by color just to impress a mate.
The short version
Male bowerbirds spend weeks building a stick structure called a bower, then collect and color-sort hundreds of objects into a display. Some create optical illusions with object size, steal decorations from rivals, and only win a mate if the female approves of the art and dance.
Why it's so weird
- ✓The Bowerbird builds an entire decorated gallery out of sticks just to win a mate.
- ✓The Bowerbird collects hundreds of objects like berries, shells, glass, and bottle caps, then sorts them all by color.
- ✓The Bowerbird arranges objects from small to large to create an optical illusion that fools a visiting mate.
- ✓The Bowerbird steals decorations from rivals and rearranges its collection for hours until it looks perfect.
- ✓The Bowerbird must win approval for both its artwork and its dance, or all the work counts for nothing.
The full story
This bird is an artist, building an entire decorated gallery just to win a date. Meet the bowerbird, whose males spend weeks constructing a structure called a bower out of hundreds of sticks. But the building is only the beginning. The male then collects piles of objects, berries, flowers, shells, bottle caps, and bits of glass, and carefully arranges them all by color into a stunning display. Some species even create an optical illusion, placing objects from small to large so the bower looks a certain size to a visiting female. He will steal decorations from rival males and rearrange his collection for hours until it is perfect. If a female is impressed by his art and his dance, she chooses him. If not, all of that work was for nothing. A bird that is part architect, part painter. Follow for more weird animal facts.
Watch the 45-second version
Bowerbird gallery
