Great Bowerbird

34-38 cm. Large, fawn-grey bowerbird with erectile pink crest on nape; upperparts grey-brown, heavily scalloped grey-white; tail tipped whitish. Female: smaller, paler; often lacks crest. Immature: like female. Singles, small flocks: active, inquisitive; bounds on ground and between branches. Flight strongly undulating, wings abruptly out-thrust, tips upswept. Male displays away from bower; half-spreads wings, with 'knee-bends'. At bower, stretches; holds object in bill; ticks, hisses; head lowered, jerked, crest expanded. Runs/bounds, ruffles feathers, cocks tail. Bower: largest avenue-type; under shrub, leafy branch; platform of twigs, with two arched walls 60-120 cm long, c. 45 cm high, form avenue c. 15 cm wide; with bones, shells, stones, pale leaves, flowers, green fruits, red objects, glass, nails, cartridge-cases.