Superb Lyrebird

Scientific name
Menura novahollandiae

At a Glance…..

Size Approximately the size of a rooster with a long lacy plumed tail.

What It Eats Worms, spiders, beetles, insects and occasionally seeds.

Gestation / Life Span Eggs take 6 weeks to hatch and the young remain with parents for 3-4 years. Life span of approximately 15 years.

Habitat Moist forests and woodlands of south eastern Australia.

Common Predators Larger birds, cats, foxes and people.

What Is a Lyrebird?

The Superb Lyrebird is a protected species of bird reminiscent of the peacock. Its dominant feature is its lacy plumed tail that fans out behind its body. The bird was named after this unusual tail; as it looks like an ancient Grecian musical instrument called the Lyre. With a small head, long neck and legs the lyrebird is the largest of the singing birds, and is remembered for its song.

Fascinating Facts

The Lyrebird hhs an extraordinary ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds.
Spectacular courtship displays.
Appears on the Australian 10 cent coin.

The Lyrebird combines its own melodious song, with an extraordinary ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment. They commonly mimic anything from another species of bird or animal to objects such as chainsaws, car engines, rifle-shots and crying babies!

The Lyrebird is the size of a rooster and b oth male and female are similar with brown feathers on the upper part of its body, lighter brown below and red-brown throat markings. The tail feathers are dark brown above and silver grey below. Whilst the female's tails reach 74-84 centimetres in length, the males tail reach 80-98 cm in length.

Unlike the Emu, the lyrebird can fly, although it rarely does as they can run quite quickly to avoid most dangers encountered.

Australians commonly carry an image of the Lyrebird with them, featured on the Australian 10 cent coin.

Where Does a Lyrebird Live?

Lyrebirds are commonly found in moist forests and woodlands in the south eastern mainland Australia and southern Tasmania. They roost in trees at night and spend most of the day sifting through fallen leaves, decaying logs and debris in search of food.

What Does a Lyrebird Eat?

A Lyrebird's diet is the same all year round. Their long beaks catch worms, spiders, beetles, and insects and they occasionally include seeds in their diet.

A Lyrebird's Family Life

Breeding for Lyrebirds occurs from May to September. The male secures a territory and attracts potential mates by raising his tail above his head. He dances for her on one of the several mounds of earth he has scraped together beforehand and sings, imitating sounds of the forest as he dances. The male will mate with several females.

The female builds a dome-shaped nest on the ground, at the fork in the trunk of a tree, on a ledge of rock or a cavity on top of a tall stump. She makes a frame of sticks and a soft lining of fern roots and feathers into which she lays a single purplish brown egg. The egg takes approximately 6 weeks to hatch, after which the young Lyrebird stays in the nest for a further six weeks and then remains with its parents for 3-4 years.

The Lyrebird is a timid, shy and solitary bird. It is more often heard than seen. When seen, it is usually alone, occasionally in pairs or small parties.