The bowerbirds are unique in the avian world in that the males build elaborate 'bowers': structures of sticks, grasses or other plant stems on or close to the ground, often incorporating objects such as colourful fruits, flowers, feathers, bones, stones, shells, insect skeletons, and numerous other natural (and human-made) objects.
The highly sophisticated building, decorating, arranging, singing, and courtship posturing and dancing by males is primarily to attract and impress females. As much of it is performed in the absence of females, however, some consider it possible that males may...

Woodlands offer birds an extremely wide range of habitats. In this book, the variation in bird life in woodlands, and the factors that influence bird numbers and distributions are examined. What birds are found in which habitats? What effect does forestry and woodland management have? How can we enhance bird populations by habitat management? Are bird numbers and distributions in natural and managed forests different - and if so, why? The gamut of British woodland is covered, from ancient coppice and wood-pasture in the lowlands, to recently-planted conifer forests in the uplands, and...