LYREBIRD

**Lyrebird ( _Menura novaehollandiae _) – The Ultimate Mimic

---

Introduction
The *Lyrebird*—specifically the **Superb Lyrebird (_Menura novaehollandiae_)—is one of Australia’s most iconic and acoustically gifted birds. Named for its spectacular, lyre‑shaped tail feathers, it is famed for its extraordinary ability to mimic a vast array of sounds from its environment, including other bird calls, chainsaws, car alarms, and even human speech.

---

Taxonomy & Naming
- *Scientific name:* _Menura novaehollandiae Latham, 1801_*
- *Family:* Menuridae (Lyrebirds) – only genus _Menura_ with two species:
- Superb Lyrebird (_M. novaehollandiae_*) – eastern Australia.
- Albert’s Lyrebird (_M. alberti_*) – a smaller, more restricted range in southeast Queensland.
- *Etymology:* _Menura_ = “month‑tail” (Greek _mēn_ = month, _oura_ = tail), referring to the long, curved tail feathers; _novaehollandiae_ = “New Holland,” the historic name for Australia.

---

Description
- *Size:* Male 80–100 cm (31–39 in) total length; female 74–86 cm.
- *Weight:* 0.9–1.3 kg (2–3 lb).
- *Plumage:*
- *Upperparts:* Dark grey‑brown, rufous on wings.
- *Underparts:* Lighter grey, throat whitish.
- *Tail (male):* 16 ornamental feathers—two long, curved *lyre‑shaped outer feathers* (filamentous with webbed tips) and 14 delicate, lace‑like *filamentous tail plumes* that are displayed in courtship.
- *Female:* Similar colouration but *no elaborate tail*, shorter and plain.
- *Bill:* Strong, slightly hooked, suited for digging.
- *Legs:* Powerful, adapted for scratching leaf litter.

---

Habitat & Distribution
- *Range:* Eastern Australia – from southern Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, and into South Australia’s border regions.
- *Habitat:* Temperate and subtropical *wet sclerophyll forests*, rainforest edges, and dense understory with abundant leaf litter. Prefers shaded, moist gullies where it can forage on the forest floor.

---

Behaviour & Ecology
Diet
- *Omnivorous:* Insects (beetles, ants, spiders), earthworms, snails, centipedes, small amphibians, seeds, and fungi.
- *Foraging:* Scratches vigorously with strong legs and claws, flipping leaf litter to expose prey.

Vocal & Mimicry Abilities
- *Song:* A mixture of its own whistles, trills, and an astonishing repertoire of *environmental noises*—chainsaws, camera shutters, car alarms, dog barks, even human whistling.
- *Purpose:* Attract mates and defend territory. Males perform a *“song and dance”* display on a cleared mound (display platform) during breeding season.

Breeding
- *Season:* May–October (Australian winter/spring).
- *Courtship:* Male builds a *display mound of twigs, leaves, and soil*, then fans his tail over his back, forming a luminous, shimmering “lyre” while singing.
- *Nest:* Dome‑shaped structure of sticks, bark, and moss, lined with soft material, built on the ground or low stump.
- *Clutch:* 1 egg (rarely 2).
- *Incubation:* 50 days, female alone.
- *Chick:* Precocial; leaves nest within a few days but remains with mother for up to 9 months.

---

Conservation Status
- *IUCN Red List:* *Least Concern (2023)* – relatively common in suitable habitat.
- *Threats:*
- *Habitat fragmentation* (logging, urban expansion).
- *Fires*—high‑intensity bushfires destroy understory.
- *Predation* (foxes, feral cats on nests).
- *Protection:* Listed under Australian *EPBC Act*, many populations reside in national parks (e.g., Dandenong Ranges, Lamington NP).

---

Interesting Facts
- *Mimicry mastery:* Can reproduce over *30 different species’ calls* and up to *15 minutes of continuous mimicry* in a single bout.
- *Tail display:* The lyre shape is most visible when the male arches his tail forward over his back, creating a *silvery, fan‑like silhouette*.
- *Longevity:* Up to *20 years* in the wild.
- *Cultural icon:* Featured on Australian postage stamps, coins, and the logo of the *Australian National Film and Sound Archive*.