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For More information feel free to visist the website below:

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For More information feel free to visist the website below:

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What do they look like?

There are 2 species in the family of lyrebirds - the superb lyrebird and the Albert's lyrebird.

It is the superb lyrebird which gives the family its name. Its spectacular tail of fanned feathers, when spread out in display, looks like a lyre (a musical instrument of ancient Greece).

The male superb lyrebird is 80-100 centimetres long, including his 55-centimetre-long tail. He is dark brown on the upper part of his body and lighter brown below, with red-brown markings on his throat. His tail feathers are dark brown above and silver-grey below.

Females of the species are smaller than the males, with similar colouring but without the lyre-shaped tail. The females' tail feathers are broadly webbed with reddish markings. Young male superb lyrebirds do not grow their lyre tails until they are three or four years old. Until this time, they usually group together and are known as 'plain-tails'.

The Albert's lyrebird is similar in appearance to the superb lyrebird, but is smaller and darker, with a rich chestnut colour. The male does not have the outer lyre-shaped tail feathers of the superb lyrebird. The Albert's lyrebird is listed as vulnerable in NSW.

Courtship and breeding

Image: Superb lyrebird mound dance Copyright: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos Under the CC BY-NC

The superb lyrebird has an elaborate courtship ritual, centred around a display mound. Built by the male bird, this display mound is made of scratched earth and measures up to 90 centimetres wide by 15 centimetres high. Each lyrebird territory may include 10 to 15 display mounds, which the displaying male may visit in turn. When courting, the male bird stands on a mound, spreading its tail over its head and singing a loud, clear song for as long as 20 minutes.

A male Albert's lyrebird builds a display panel of trampled vegetation. Its song and displays are comparable to those of the superb lyrebird, although its song is less varied.

The display period for both species is from May to August, with breeding occurring mainly in June and July. Females are attracted to the mound by the male's display and song. Male birds will mate with several females, and although they appear to know where the nests are, they take no part in building them or incubating and feeding the young.

The female builds a dome-shaped nest of sticks, which can be on the ground, on rocks, within tree stumps, or in tree ferns and caves. The nest is lined with ferns, feathers, moss and rootlets. Usually, only 1 egg is laid, which hatches in around 6 weeks. The young lyrebird remains in the nest for 6 to 10 weeks.

Keeping out of danger

Lyrebirds are shy birds. When threatened, they escape by running and dodging rapidly through the undergrowth emitting high-pitched shrieks of alarm.

With their short, round, weakly-muscled wings they rarely fly. However, their wings allow them to jump onto tree branches or rocks - and then glide back down to the forest floor.

Living with lyrebirds

Some people living on the edge of the bush are lucky enough to have lyrebirds visit their gardens. Finding out about their way of life, and listening to their fantastic mimicry, can make living with lyrebirds a rewarding experience. Sometimes however, these birds rake up garden beds, knocking over seedlings and leaving leaf litter everywhere.

To prevent this from happening, you can put up wire fences around plants to protect them, make a temporary barrier with potted plants, or lay chicken wire over the garden beds. Lyrebirds will be encouraged by open compost heaps, so keep your compost covered or use a compost bin.

Protection of native animals

All native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, but not including dingoes, are protected in NSW by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

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There are 2 species in the family of lyrebirds - the superb lyrebird and the Albert's lyrebird. It is the superb lyrebird which gives the family its name. Its spectacular tail of fanned feathers, when spread out in display, looks like a lyre (a musical instrument of ancient Greece).

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Lyrebird making interesting noises: (Volume up)

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Lyrebird making interesting noises: (Volume up)

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Lyrebird Mimicking Chainsaws, Cameras, Cars and Even People!

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http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/lyrebirds

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitness_(biology)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU91CTcM9cQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwxvjrbEkTg

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Here is an example of the Lyrebird trying to attract a mate:

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Here is an example of the Lyrebird trying to attract a mate:

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Courtship Behaviour of Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

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Interesting courtship behaviour and display of the male Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) filmed in an enclosure at the Healesville Sanctuary, Badger Creek, Melbourne. Australia.

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is the quantitative representation of natural and sexual selection within evolutionary biology

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Special trait that makes the Lyrebird fit

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Special trait that makes the Lyrebird fit

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The Lyrebird's special trait is that it has long tail feathers that resemble a Lyre

When females look to mate, the look for the most attractive male. The long feathers make the bird seem bigger, more masculine and more beautiful. In addition, Males will build a mound of dirt and stand on it. Then they will perform their dance to attract females. They females will mate with them and not the ones with the small feathers, as a result all the future offspring will have long tail feathers.

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It is Australia's most known bird.

2 species: Superb Lyrebird and Albert's Lyrebird

Males have around a 55 centimeter tail

Has a tail shaped like a lyre

Listed as a vulnerable species  by New South Wales.

Males have tail feathers, females don't

Can mimic almost any sound, Including chainsaws and Cameras

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The Lyebird is found in sub-rain forest environments in New  South Wales.

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This project was made possible by: Kevin and Adrian

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This project was made possible by: Kevin and Adrian