The Macgregor’s Bowerbird (Ambloyornis macgregoriae) endemic to the highlands of Papua New Guinea is olive brown, with a hidden orange crest and medium sized – about the size of a robin. In Hogave Conservation where its habitat is protected, the Macgregor’s Bowerbird’s interesting traits are attractive to wildlife filmmakers. The English name ‘Macgregor’ was given to the bird in honor of Lady Macgregor, the wife of Sir William Macgregor who was Administrator of British New Guinea from 1884 to 1894. However long before that, the bird was locally known as ‘Osė’.
The Osė eats mainly fruits and insects and lives in ridge crests. Although shy, it becomes territorial during mating season. An intriguing trait about the Osė is that it can accurately mimic a variety of human activity sounds including the laughter of children playing outside. It also mimics rushing water, pigs, wood chopping, and other bird sounds. The mimicking acts as a warning system to ward off and confuse predators or potential threats. Apart from this rare mimicking talent, the Osė also boasts architectural skills.
The Osė’s unique courtship ritual involves building a cone-shaped structure with carefully selected twigs and colorful ornaments found on the forest floor to attract female friends. This architectural feat is achieved firstly by clearing up a small area on the forest floor and setting a raised moss foundation. The Christmas tree shaped tower is then methodically constructed reaching about a meter in height. The tower is decorated with assorted flowers, insects and other collected objects. Much time is spent in perfecting and decorating the bower as it will determine his success.
The tower is an attraction to many females during mating season and the affection of the female is won through the approval of the tower’s design and beauty together with other male courtship displays including strutting, dancing and showing its hidden crest.After mating, the olive brown female birds leave to build a simple nest in nearby bushes to rear their chicks.
