They prefer wetter forests and woodlands with nearby open spaces. They're more frequently seen in urban areas with "bowers" appearing in backyards.

These birds are medium in size and the adult male bird has glossy blue-black feathers, a whitish bill and a striking violet eye.

Younger males and females are similar in colour, olive-green above, off-white below with dark scalloping and brown wings and tail and are often referred to as "green" birds. These "green" birds often form groups or large flocks, while adult male birds are solitary.

Male birds do not start getting their adult colour until their fifth year and are seven before they have full adult plumage.

Bowerbirds feed on fruit, leaves and some insects.

Satin Bowerbird males are best known for their practice of building and decorating a bower to attract females.

This bower consists of a horseshoe shaped arch, intricately woven from grass and twigs. The area surrounding the arch is decorated with precious objects, most often coloured blue, that are collected from nearby areas or stolen from other bowers.

Objects such as clothes pegs, straws, bottle tops as well as blue feathers, blue or yellow flowers and brown snail shells can be found in the bower.

Female Bowerbirds select their mate based on the attractiveness of the bower and display.

When female birds arrive to inspect the bower the male leaps into a display of exaggerated movements, strutting and bowing with outstretched wings. Loud mechanical sounding buzzing and rattling noises are also made.

If the female is impressed, she moves into the bower arch for mating.

Females only mate once while male birds may mate with up to 33 females. The female makes a nest and incubates and raises the chicks by herself.

Blue trinkets have become a favourite colour for the birds, mostly because of the ease they can be found around human habitation. This attraction is not without risk to the birds however as the blue rings from milk and drink bottles can get caught around the bird's neck, resulting in eventual death. In some states blue lids on milk containers have been banned and black plastic, which is less attractive to bowerbirds, is used instead. Care should be taken to always cut plastic rings off bottles to protect our wildlife.

Hunter Bird Observer's Club website can be found at: http://www.hboc.org.au/ or follow us on Facebook.