Western Bowerbirds were once simply regarded as a form of the more familiar Spotted Bowerbird and indeed, their life histories and behaviour at the bower are very similar. However, since about 1980 birds that occur from just east of Alice Springs westwards through to the coast of W.A. have been regarded as a separate species, the Western Bowerbird. It's not a done deal however, some experts disagree.

Mainly because they occur in fairly remote areas, Western Bowerbirds are not as well-known as their eastern counterparts. They do have a liking for rocky gorges where, in range country where there is not only water (a daily requirement) but where their favourite food, the Rock Fig, Ficus platypoda, occurs. The ranges east and west of Alice Springs are good places to see them, or in W.A. the gorges in the Cape Range near Exmouth are where I took pictures 681001 and 681201.

There is a well-known bower at the Olive Pink Botanic Garden right in the middle of Alice Springs. The Gemtree Caravan Park in the Harts Range area NE of Alice Springs is also worth a look.