The bowerbird of Australia and New Guinea has one of the most elaborate and extraordinary mating rituals of any animal.

The males build complex and attractive bowers on the ground - which have also been described as 'love-nests' or 'bachelor pads' with the sole purpose of enticing female birds.

The bower is built on the forest floor from twigs, leaves and moss, and is decorated with colourful feathers, pebbles, berries, snail shells and kangaroo bones.

When a female shows interest in the bower, the male struts and sings, trying to convince her to enter the bower and mate with him.

If he is successful, the female flies off after mating has taken place to build a nest close by, when the male promptly turns his attention to trying to find another female to mate with, playing no part in the upbringing of the offspring of any of his lovers.

Research has shown that the number of Solanum berries used in the decoration is an accurate predictor of mating success. Shiny coins, spoons, pieces of aluminium foil and even, in one case, a glass eye have been used to entice birds to the bower.

Research has also shown that when building a new bower, a male will re-cycle an average of 30% of the materials he used to decorate the previous one.

Most females, however, are easily convinced, with 75% mating with the owner of the first bower they visit. Males who build the best bowers are thus very successful, while others may never find a mate at all.

Research in 2010 showed that bowerbirds are good mimics of the songs of other birds, which they pick up directly from the species being mimicked, rather than from other bowerbirds which are already doing the impression.