How does a lyrebird mimic sounds?
A lyrebird mimics sounds using a complex voice box, called a syrinx, with highly developed muscles. Males copy other birds and even human-made noises to impress females during courtship.
The superb lyrebird, found in forests of southeastern Australia, is one of the world's best mimics. A male can copy the calls of dozens of other birds, such as kookaburras, whipbirds and currawongs, often stringing them together in a single song.
Lyrebirds have also been recorded imitating chainsaws, car alarms and camera shutters, although these sounds are rare in the wild and usually learned by captive birds or those living near people.
Dancing displays
During the winter breeding season, males clear small mounds on the forest floor and perform, spreading their long, lacy tail feathers over their heads and singing.
The male's tail is shaped like a lyre, an ancient harp, giving the bird its name.
The superb lyrebird appears on the Australian ten-cent coin. A second species, Albert's lyrebird, lives in a small area of rainforest on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. Young males learn their songs by listening to older males, and local song styles can be passed down for generations. Good places to hear lyrebirds include Sherbrooke Forest in the Dandenong Ranges and the Blue Mountains.
Did You Know?
Lyrebirds rake through leaf litter while feeding, moving large amounts of soil and helping forest health.