Photo: John Gould / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Masked Bowerbird
Sericulus aureus
Masked Bowerbird (Sericulus aureus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Masked Bowerbird (Sericulus aureus) is a member of the Ptilonorhynchidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 172 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Ptilonorhynchidae Bowerbirds
- Genus Sericulus
- Species aureus
Where it lives
Montane Bird'southern Head and Neck (northwestern New Guinea) to east-central New Guinea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 172 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Ptilonorhynchidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Masked Bowerbird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Masked Bowerbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Masked Bowerbird (Sericulus aureus) belongs to the Ptilonorhynchidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane Bird's Head and Neck (nw New Guinea) to ec New Guinea.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 172 g, with a wing length of about 13.8 cm and a tail of around 8.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 36,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Masked Bowerbird?
The Masked Bowerbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 172 g.
Where does the Masked Bowerbird live?
The Masked Bowerbird is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane Bird's Head and Neck (nw New Guinea) to ec New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Masked Bowerbird belong to?
The Masked Bowerbird (Sericulus aureus) belongs to the Ptilonorhynchidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Masked Bowerbird eat?
The Masked Bowerbird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Masked Bowerbird migrate?
The Masked Bowerbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Masked Bowerbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Masked Bowerbird make?
1 real field recording of the Masked Bowerbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Masked Bowerbird's range?
The Masked Bowerbird has a mapped global range of about 36,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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