Urban bowerbirds prefer human-made items over natural materials for courtship

A new study in Royal Society Open Science found urban great bowerbirds in Townsville, Queensland, use far more human-made debris than natural materials in their courtship bowers.

City males especially chose high-contrast trash like red wire and green glass, while both urban and rural birds preferred plastic and glass in swap tests.

The findings suggest litter is reshaping mating displays in urban wildlife, though the study did not directly test female choice.

Researchers say this could affect mating success and add new ecological risks for birds living in cities.