Black-eared Catbird

The Spotted Catbird, Ailuroedus maculosus, is a robust avian species adorned with emerald green upperparts. Below its dark red eye, one can observe a distinctive black spot, while its underparts are a green-olive hue, generously speckled with pale spots. This bird is a member of the bowerbird family, Ptilonorhynchidae, yet intriguingly, it does not engage in the construction of a bower.

Identification Tips

Adult Spotted Catbirds measure between 26 to 30 centimeters in length. The males, slightly heavier, weigh around 180 grams, and the females, 168 grams. They possess a large, dusky head with a blackish cap and a black ear-patch. Their plumage is primarily bright green with pronounced olive chevrons and white streaking on the underbody. Notable are their slim white wing bars and a white-tipped green tail. The eyes are a striking red, complemented by a stout, cream-colored beak, and their legs and feet exhibit a dark to bluish-grey shade. Both sexes share similar plumage, which serves as excellent camouflage in their natural habitat.

Habitat

The Spotted Catbird thrives in the tropical rainforests of the Australo-Papuan region. It is particularly common in the Wet Tropics of northern Queensland, where it prefers nesting in verdant areas with steep creek slopes and dense Calamus tangles.

Distribution

This species is found in north Queensland, the eastern Moluccas, and New Guinea. In Australia, it is localized to two isolated populations in far north Queensland, one on Cape York and another in the wet tropics region.

Behaviour

The Spotted Catbird exhibits a curious and bold demeanor, often approaching humans who venture into its territory. It is known for its arboreal displays and vocalizations, which include a loud, cat-like wailing and a nasal "here-I-arr" call accompanied by sharp clicks and cries, particularly vocal at dawn and dusk.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Spotted Catbird is quite distinctive, characterized by loud cat-like wails and a variety of calls that include nasal notes, sharp clicks, and a series of loud cries. These calls are more frequent in cooler temperatures, especially after rainfall.

Breeding

Spotted Catbirds are monogamous, with pair bonds sometimes lasting beyond a single breeding season. The breeding period spans from August to March. Courtship involves the male presenting food to the female and engaging in excited hopping around her on perches.

Similar Species

The Spotted Catbird can be distinguished from the Green Catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris, by the absence of black ear-coverts and reduced dorsal spotting.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily frugivorous, the Spotted Catbird consumes small, structurally-unprotected fruits, as well as larger ones between 13-21mm in diameter. It also supplements its diet with beetles, insects, new buds, shoots of ferns, and occasionally, small birds or their nestlings.

Conservation status

The Spotted Catbird is currently evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, habitat destruction and climate change pose potential threats to its well-being.