Birds in Backyards

Superb Lyrebird. Superb Lyrebird.
Photo: A Selby © Australian Museum

Superb Lyrebird Superb Lyrebird
Photo: K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers © K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers

Superb Lyrebird. Image from: John Gould (1804-81) The birds of Australia 1840-48. 7 vols. 600 plates Artists: J. Gould and E. Gould; Lithographer: E. Gould. Superb Lyrebird. Image from: John Gould (1804-81) The birds of Australia 1840-48. 7 vols. 600 plates Artists: J. Gould and E. Gould; Lithographer: E. Gould.
Photo: Research Library © Australian Museum

Superb Lyrebird foraging. Superb Lyrebird foraging.
Photo: K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers © K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers

Distribution map of Menura novaehollandiae Distribution map of Menura novaehollandiae
Map © Birds Australia Birdata

Did you know?

About 80% of the Superb Lyrebird's song consists of expert mimicry, with both natural and mechanical sounds imitated and joined together in a rousing medley. Sounds can include anything heard in the bird's immediate surroundings, such as chainsaws, car engines, dog barks and local native birds.

Facts and figures

Minimum size: 80 cm
Maximum size: 100 cm
Average size: 90 cm
Average weight: 975 g
Breeding season: April to October (slightly shorter in north of range)

Calls

Mimicked calls: chainsaws, car engines, dog barks and local native birds. Other calls: a series of whistles and cackling notes that are used as territorial calls, as well as a loud alarm shriek.

Call in MP3 format (273kb)
Copyright © Fred Van Gessel

Conservation status

Federal - Secure
NSW - Secure

Status of Australian Birds

Superb Lyrebird

Scientific name: Menura novaehollandiae
Family: Menuridae
Order: Passeriformes

What does it look like?

Description

The Superb Lyrebird looks like a large brown pheasant. The wings are rufous in colour and the bill, legs and feet are black. The adult male has an ornate tail, with special curved feathers that, in display, assume the shape of a lyre. The tails of females and young males are long, but lack the specialised feather. Females are smaller than males.

Similar species

One other lyrebird found in Australia is Albert's Lyrebird, M. alberti, which is restricted to an area around the Border Ranges, on the Queensland-New South Wales border. This bird is redder in colour and the male's tail is less elaborate.

Where does it live?

Distribution

The Superb Lyrebird occurs in the south-eastern Australian mainland and southern Tasmania.

Habitat

It is a ground-dwelling species in moist forests, but roosts in trees at night. Birds are sedentary, rarely moving large distances and generally staying in a home-range about 10 km in diameter.

Seasonal movements

Sedentary.

What does it do?

Feeding

Superb Lyrebirds feed on insects, spiders, worms and, occasionally, seeds. It finds food by scratching with its feet through the leaf-litter. Birds tend to forage alone, but females and young males may be seen feeding together.

Breeding

The male secures a territory, attracting potential mates by singing and dancing on one of several mounds within it, while throwing the tail forward over the body and shaking it in display. The male will mate with several females. The female alone builds the nest, incubates the eggs and cares for the young.

References

Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. and Steele, W.K. (eds) 2001. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 5 (Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Strahan, R. (ed) 1994. Cuckoos, Nightbirds and Kingfishers of Australia. Angus and Robertson/Australian Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.

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