birding-aus

Satin Bowerbird Mimicry

To: "Kurtis Lindsay" <>
Subject: Satin Bowerbird Mimicry
From: "Evan Beaver" <>
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:39:34 +1000
Hi Kurtis,

I've observed similar behaviour with our resident female Satin BB.
She'll sit in the conifer in the backyard, for an hour or more,
mimicking one species at a time. Aussie raven is a favourite, also the
YTBC, Glossy-Black and even Ringtail possum. Have you heard it imitate
anything else? Unlike Superb Lyres, ours seems to lock onto one bird
at a time, rather than rolling constantly through the whole
repertoire.

I'd often thought the fascination with the raven was a strategy to
scare off intruders. She almost always hides in the foliage, and sits
very still...

EB

On 6/18/08, Kurtis Lindsay <> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have been watching a juvenile Satin Bowerbird which has been sitting in a 
> eucalypt in my backyard for the past twenty minutes.
> The interesting thing about this bowerbird is, despite uttering the usual 
> satin bowerbird calls (the odd 'mechanical' buzzing, chattering and scolding) 
> it is mimicing the calls of one other bird, the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo.
> YTBC's aren't very common around my place, but bowerbirds are. The thing I 
> find unusual though is how this bird is only mimicing one other species (it 
> is doing a pretty good job of it too).
> The rendition involves the complete 'advertising call' of the Yellow-tailed 
> Black Cockatoo (the call they use in flight - "wheeeeeelya"), along with the 
> softer calls YTBC's use while feeding, and I'm pretty sure I can even hear an 
> imitation of the 'cracking' sounds YTBC's make when they're feeding on 
> Banksia pods or Pine Cones.
>
> Perhaps this young Bowerbird is having identity issues and is striving to 
> become a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo! :)
>
> Just then a group of Noisy Miners flew in to mob the imposter and drive it 
> away. They failed!
>
> Regards,
>
> Kurtis Lindsay
> www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
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-- 
Evan Beaver
Lapstone, Blue Mountains, NSW
lat=-33.77, lon=150.64
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