I’ve been spending time in the beautiful Hunter Valley recently, and have seen more Satin Bowerbirds in one spot than in total ever before now. Such a treat!

The first few birds that I saw were all female. They’re slightly smaller than a Magpie, and are gorgeous, with their purple eyes and the brown-green tones of their plumage.

It was surprising to see these birds foraging in a dumpster for scraps to eat. Somehow, I would have thought dumpster diving was beneath such gorgeous creatures!

In the video, you can also hear Australian Magpies carolling. Here’s one that joined the Bowerbirds on the edge of the dumpster:

The male Satin Bowerbird was much more shy than the females. I did manage to get a shot of him, high up in a tree:

Males are entirely blue-black, and also have those unusual purple eyes. When the light catches their feathers in the right way, the black has a distinctive blue sheen.

I examined the ground in the area where the male was hanging out, and managed to find his bower. I was careful not to go to close. He had arranged some dead grass into an architectural gateway, and scatted plenty of blue plastic pieces around. A fitting lure for a female beauty:

This is the first time I’ve seen a Bowerbird’s bower, and the first time I’ve seen a male Satin Bowerbird in the wild. It was a lovely experience.

Common name: Satin Bowerbird
Scientific name: Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
Approximate length: 28-34 cm
Date spotted: 4-5 July 2025 (winter)
Location: Cypress Lakes resort, Pokolbin, NSW, Australia