Superb lyrebird
The superb lyrebird, native to Australia, is renowned for its distinctive tail feathers that resemble the shape of the lyre, an ancient Greek musical instrument. This bird has a remarkable vocal range due to its specialized voice box, allowing it to produce a variety of sounds. Males can grow to lengths of 31 to 39 inches, while females are slightly smaller at 29 to 34 inches, with both sexes weighing around two pounds. Although superb lyrebirds are not strong fliers, they navigate their forest habitats by gliding and roosting high in the canopy.
As carnivores, they primarily feed on invertebrates, utilizing their powerful feet to dig for prey. Breeding occurs between June and October, during which males display their impressive plumage and sing to attract females. After mating, females construct nests and incubate a single egg for about 50 days. While superb lyrebirds are currently protected and not considered threatened, habitat destruction and predation remain significant concerns for their populations. Their call is characterized by a loud, high-pitched shriek, and these birds can live up to 20 years in the wild.
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Superb lyrebird
The superb lyrebird receives its name from the shape of its tail feathers, which resemble that of the ancient Greek musical instrument, the lyre. The superb lyrebird has a special voice box which gives the bird a wide vocal range. It can be found in Australia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Menuridae
Genus: Menura
Species: Novaehollandiae
The female superb lyrebird reaches a length of 29 to 34 inches (73 to 87 centimeters) including her tail. The male reaches a body and tail length of 31 to 39 inches (28 to 99 centimeters). Both sexes weigh around two pounds (about one kilogram) although males may sometimes weigh a little more. The tail of the superb lyrebird is quite remarkable. The two large outer feathers of the tail grow as long as 24 inches (60 centimeters). There are 12 thin, lacelike feathers, and two guard feathers which curl upward like antennae.
The superb lyrebird is a poor flier. It moves through the air in a gliding pattern, its wings held out to its sides. It roosts, or sleeps, high in the forest canopy. The canopy of a forest refers to the higher places in the forest, such as the tops of trees. The superb lyrebird is considered a "shy" bird, and one which is difficult to spot. The superb lyrebird is a carnivore, or meat-eating animal. Using its powerful, long-clawed feet, it digs for invertebrates, such as earthworms, in the soil and in rotting logs. It also eats amphipods, beetles, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, sow bugs, fly larvae, hemipterans, and scorpions. A superb lyrebird may catch up to 18 items of prey per minute while digging.
The nest of the superb lyrebird is built by the female and consists of a large, bulky, chamber of bark, twigs, moss, and fern fronds (leaves). The nest is lined with roots and body feathers, leaving a small opening for a side entrance. The nests may be located on the ground, earth banks, rock faces, boulders, trees, roots, and logs. Some species build their nests in trees as high as 72 feet (22 meters) off the ground. The total time the female spends on the nest can exceed 160 hours.
Mating season for the superb lyrebird takes place between June and October. When courting a female, the male moves onto a mound of dirt and opens his tail feathers in a wonderful display of silvery plumage. He repeatedly opens and closes them, thrusting them in the direction of the female. With this display, combined with a loud, melodious, or musically pleasing, song he hopes to win the female. He often attracts and mates with three females.
After mating, the female lays one egg. The egg is light gray to deep khaki or purple-brown with blackish-brown or deep gray spots and streaks. The male plays no part in nest-building, incubation of the eggs, or raising of the young. The female incubates the egg for about half the day, leaving it unprotected for three to six hours each morning. The temperature of the egg drops while she is gone, and the development of the unhatched bird is slowed. This is why the incubation period for the superb lyrebird is 50 days. After hatching, the young bird is fed by its mother until it is eight months old. About 80 percent of young superb lyrebirds which are killed in the nest are taken by predatory birds and mammals.
During the 19th century, many superb lyrebirds were killed for their tail plumage, or feathers. Today, the superb lyrebirds are protected against such acts. The biggest threat to the superb lyrebirds is the disruption and outright destruction of their habitat. Other threats to superb lyrebirds come from predators such as goshawks, sparrowhawks, and currawongs.
The call of the superb lyrebird is described as a loud, high-pitched shriek. The bird is capable of living up to 20 years. They are not a threatened species.
Bibliography
“Superb Lyrebird Fact Sheet - Blog - Nature.” PBS, 3 May 2023, www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/superb-lyrebird-fact-sheet. Accessed 10 May 2024.
“Superb Lyrebird.” Australian Museum, 6 Mar. 2023, australian.museum/learn/animals/birds/superb-lyrebird. Accessed 10 May 2024.