Alternative names: Black Bowerbird; Gold-crested Black Bowerbird
- Archboldia papuensis
Identification
37cm.
- Dark sooty grey to black plumage
- Extensive black-streaked orange-yellow crest from forehead to nape
- Dark brown eye
- Grey feet
- Black bill
Females are smaller, have no crest and the plumage is less black. Immature males are similar to females but darker.
Similar species
Sanford's Bowerbird is very similar (and most possibly conspecific) but ranges don't overlap.
Distribution
Endemic to mountains of west-central New Guinea (Wissel Lakes, Weyland Mountains area, Nassau Range, Oranje Mountains, Bele Range and Habbema region).
Locally common but very patchily distributed and with a very small range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.[1]
Some authorities include Sanford's Bowerbird as a subspecies under Archbold's Bowerbird and new studies would confirm this. [2]
Habitat
Highland forests with mossy beech and conferous tree species. Occurs at 1750 - 3660m, mainly at 2300 - 2900m.
Behaviour
A resident species.
Breeding
Breeding season from September to February, display from September to December. The bower consist of a cleared place with an accumulated mat made of fern fronds. Perches above the mat are draped with flowers or stems of orchids. The bower is decorated with different materials, sometimes even with feathers of an adult male King-of-Saxony Bird-of-paradise. The female builds and attends the nest alone, an untidy bowl made of sticks. Lays 1 egg.
One bower was used for 15 years, another one was attended by the same male for six seasons.
Diet
Almost no information about diet. Feeds probably on fruits and some animals (like tree-climbing skinks and insects).
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Archbold's Bowerbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Archbold%27s_Bowerbird
