The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bower bird \Bow"er bird`\ (Zool.)
   An Australian bird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus or
   Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus), allied to the starling. The
   male constructs singular bowers or playhouses of twigs and
   decorates them with bright-colored objects to attract
   females; the satin bird.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The name is also applied to other related birds of the
         same region, having similar habits; as, the spotted
         bower bird (Chalmydodera maculata), and the regent
         bird (Sericulus melinus).
         [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
    n 1: of southeast Australia; male is glossy violet blue; female
         is light grey-green [syn: satin bowerbird, satin bird,
         Ptilonorhynchus violaceus]