Urban Bowerbirds Court Females with Plastic, Bottle Caps, and Even Handcuffs

In Australia, the Great Bowerbird's elaborate courtship ritual involves males constructing "bowers" and decorating them with various objects to attract females. A recent study reveals a striking difference in decoration preferences between urban and rural populations.

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The bower is built solely to attract a mate, and the male selects objects that contrast with his own plumage or the bower itself.

Researchers observed that male bowerbirds living in cities are more inclined to use artificial items such as plastic, bottle caps, glass fragments, and even handcuffs to adorn their bowers. These urban birds collected a substantially larger number of items, averaging 90 compared to the 20 found in rural bowers. The study, published in "Royal Society Open Science," suggests that the preference for artificial objects might stem from the availability of novel and unnatural colors in urban settings, which stand out against the birds' own plumage.

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The male bird, when a female arrives and stands in the bower, will throw an object into her line of sight, then fan the feathers on the back of his head, and then throw another object, repeating this behavior.

While rural bowerbirds tend to favor natural items like green leaves and seeds, urban birds showed a particular liking for bright red wires, often preferring them over natural materials. The durability of artificial items, which do not lose their luster like fruits do, could also contribute to their appeal. This adaptation highlights how urbanization can influence animal behavior and mating strategies, with city birds creating more extravagant displays to attract mates.

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Birds in species that primarily use bright colors for signaling, such as for courtship or territorial displays, may prefer new and unnatural colors.