Courtship Display of the Tooth-billed Bowerbird Scenopoeetes dentirostris and Its Behavioral and Systematic Significance

Abstract

Male Tooth-billed Bowerbirds Scenopoeetes dentirostris were filmed (n = 25), directly observed (n = 28) and audio-recorded (n = 84). Courtship display consisted of two discrete components: a period of vocal mimicry from a concealed location followed by vigorously animated posturing and vocalisation across the display court. A contrastingly pigmented mouth interior, erected throat feathers and leaps accompanied by wing flaps and swinging tail movements were used in this visual display. Displays of Toothbilled Bowerbirds are most similar to those of Arnblyornis bowerbird species and an unrelated African ploceid finch Euplectes jacksoni, in which males hide behind vegetation and produce sounds prior to visual display and mating. Besides the use of bowers, there are marked similarities between male displays of Sc. Dentirostris and Arnblyornis spp. and, to a lesser degree, Sericulus, Ptilonorhynchus and Chlarnydera bowerbirds confirming close relationship among the genera. Origins and functions of bower building and the validity of the genus Scenopoeetes are discussed.