Albert's Lyrebird

Albert's lyrebird (Menura alberti) is a pheasant-sized avian, cloaked in chestnut-brown with a rufous undertail, rump, and throat. The male's plumage is particularly striking, boasting a spectacular tail with dark-brown median plumes and filamentary feathers, while the female's tail is shorter and lacks the filamentaries. This species is endemic to the subtropical rainforests of Australia, along the border between New South Wales and Queensland.

Identification Tips

Males measure about 90 cm in length, with females slightly smaller at approximately 75 cm. Both sexes have a wingspan of 76–79 cm and weigh around 930 g. The bill is black, the iris dark brown or black, and a distinctive blue-grey ring encircles the eye. The legs and feet range from brownish grey to dark grey or black. Juveniles resemble adult females but have a richer rufous-brown coloring on the chin, throat, and foreneck, and their tail feathers are narrower and more tapered.

Habitat

Albert's lyrebird favors rainforest with a dense understorey of vines and shrubs, or wet sclerophyll forest with a dense understorey of rainforest plants. They are also found in mixed eucalypt forest with a mesic understorey, particularly around gullies and lower slopes.

Distribution

The bird's range is limited to several small areas of mountain ranges in far south-east Queensland and far north-east New South Wales, with much of the remaining habitat occurring in reserves. Notable locations include Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook National Park, the McPherson Range, Mount Barney National Park, the Main Range, and the Lamington Plateau in Queensland, and the Border Ranges, Nightcap National Park, and the Mount Warning area in New South Wales.

Behaviour

Albert's lyrebird is a sedentary species, remaining in the same general area throughout the year. Males are territorial during the breeding season, while females maintain separate territories for feeding. They are typically found singly or in pairs, and occasionally in groups of three.

Song & Calls

The Albert's lyrebird's voice is a symphony of its own calls and mimicry, featuring imitations of the green catbird, satin bowerbird, whipbirds, and rosellas. Their song is a complex arrangement of sequences, learned through social transmission, and varies geographically. Males sing extensively during the winter breeding season, and in alarm, they emit a shrill shriek.

Breeding

The mating system of Albert's lyrebird is not well understood. Males perform a courtship display on a cleared stage, enveloping themselves beneath a veil of fine bushy filaments. Females build dome-shaped nests with a side entrance, usually in dark areas of the forest. They lay a single egg per clutch and raise the young without male assistance.

Similar Species

The superb lyrebird is similar but can be distinguished by its more elaborate lyre-shaped tail feathers and broader distribution.

Diet and Feeding

Albert's lyrebird primarily feeds on insects, their larvae, and other soil-dwelling invertebrates. They forage on the ground in areas with deep moist leaf litter and fallen logs, and occasionally in epiphytic ferns.

Conservation Status

The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but faces threats from habitat loss, predation by introduced species, and potential impacts from global warming. Conservation efforts are focused on protecting and managing their forest habitats.