Tablelands Talk: Tooth-billed Bowerbird – Unique among a unique family (plus uniquely rough sex)
Thu, 23 Apr
|Malanda Hotel
The Tooth-billed Bowerbird, endemic to the Wet Tropics, is unusual for its tooth-like bill, lack of a true bower, complex mimicry, and unique mating behaviour, explored by Cliff Frith.
Time and location
23 Apr 2026, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm AEST
Malanda Hotel, 12-20 English St, Malanda QLD 4885, Australia
About the event
The Tooth-billed Bowerbird is only found in the Wet Tropics and from its first examination by scientists it seemed remarkably different from all other bowerbirds. In the first place it seemed to have teeth that had no clear function.
Of course, birds do not have teeth, so it was more the presence of tooth-shaped elements on their bill that attracted attention and gave it its name. But why? The question of its food also remained open. It was presumed, because this was noticed, they might eat fruit. And they do – but what else?
Then the question of a “bower” was interesting, because this species does not build a bower. Rather, it creates a court by simply laying certain leaves on a patch of forest floor it first clears of leaf litter. But only in just the right place – and what might that be? And then, of course, the…