The brilliant gold and black markings on the adult male regent bowerbird are an exquisite sight. The mottled brown female is much more inconspicuously feathered.
This shy species lives in rainforests in southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. It feeds on fruit in the canopy and mid-storey including native tamarind and giant stinging tree.
The male builds a small bower of sticks on the ground to attract females. It is 30cm high, with an inner ‘avenue’ about 15 - 20cm in length. The female bowerbird builds her nest of twigs and leaves in an elevated tree or vine where she incubates and raises young birds alone.