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Definition of bowerbird

bowerbird

/ˈbaʊ.ɚˌbɝːd/
bow · er · bird
Plural:bowerbirds
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bowerbird Lexical Profile

bowerbird Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various passerine birds of the family Ptilonorhynchidae, native to Australia and New Guinea, renowned for the male's unique courtship behavior of building and decorating an elaborate structure, or bower, to attract a mate.

Example

"During courtship, the male satin bowerbird carefully decorates his intricate stick structure with bright blue objects like berries, flowers, and even bits of plastic."

Photo by Joseph C Boone / CC BY-SA 4.0

• Nearby Words

bow river
bowen
bowen falls
bowerbird
bowfin
bowhead whale
bowl

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century from 'bower' (a shaded, leafy shelter) + 'bird', referring to the elaborate, decorated structures built by males of the species during courtship.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bowerbird. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bowerbird
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