Superb Lyrebird

The superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae, is a passerine songbird of considerable size, known for its striking tail and intricate courtship displays. This species, endemic to Australia, is one of the largest songbirds globally and is celebrated for its exceptional mimicry abilities. The male's plumage is predominantly dark brown on the upper body, transitioning to greyish-brown on the underparts, with a hint of red in the flight feathers. Females are slightly smaller and less vividly colored.

Identification Tips

Males are distinguished by their remarkable tail feathers, which can reach up to 70 cm in length and consist of sixteen feathers, including the distinctive lyre-shaped lyrates. Females have a less elaborate tail, with shorter lyrates and simpler broad feathers. Both sexes exhibit short, rounded wings that are more suited for gliding than sustained flight, and their powerful legs enable them to run swiftly across the forest floor.

Habitat

The superb lyrebird favors wet forests and rainforests with a dense canopy and a moist leaf litter layer. These habitats provide the necessary cover and foraging opportunities for the species.

Distribution

This bird is native to the southeastern forests of Australia, from southern Victoria to southeastern Queensland. It has also been successfully introduced to Tasmania, where it thrives.

Behaviour

Superb lyrebirds are generally solitary, with adults occupying individual territories. They are ground-dwelling and exhibit limited flight capabilities, often remaining within the same area for life. Their territories are small, and they exhibit various behaviors across different populations.

Song & Calls

The superb lyrebird's vocal repertoire is vast, with males known to mimic the calls of other bird species and even anthropogenic sounds such as car alarms and chainsaws. Females also engage in mimicry, which serves multiple purposes, including predator deterrence and territory defense.

Breeding

The species is polygynous, with males mating with multiple females. Males perform elaborate courtship displays involving song and dance on specially constructed mounds. Females are solely responsible for nest-building and rearing the young, typically laying a single egg per year during the winter.

Similar Species

The superb lyrebird can be confused with the rarer Albert's lyrebird, but it can be differentiated by its larger size and the brighter coloration of its tail feathers.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily mycophagists and invertebrate feeders, superb lyrebirds forage by scratching the forest floor, turning over leaf litter in search of food.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the superb lyrebird as Least Concern, with stable populations across its range. However, they face threats from predation by native and introduced species, habitat destruction, and vehicle collisions.

Ecosystem engineers

The foraging behavior of the superb lyrebird significantly impacts the forest floor, promoting nutrient cycling and reducing the intensity of wildfires by clearing leaf litter.

In culture

The superb lyrebird is an iconic Australian species, featured on the reverse side of the Australian 10-cent coin and as the emblem of the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.