One of Australia’s most extraordinary birds, often called the world’s greatest mimic. Living in the dense forests of southeastern Australia, including Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, this bird is hard to miss—not just for its impressive size but for its voice. As one of the largest songbirds in the world, the male can grow up to a meter long, with nearly half of that length taken up by its spectacular tail feathers. But what truly makes the Superb lyrebird famous is its ability to imitate almost any sound it hears, from other bird calls to human-made noises like chainsaws, car alarms, dogs barking, and even camera shutters.

What makes the Superb lyrebird especially striking is the male’s courtship performance. During the breeding season, he clears a patch of forest floor and transforms it into his stage. There, he fans out his long tail feathers, which form the shape of a classical lyre—a harp-like instrument that inspired the bird’s name. The tail consists of 16 feathers: two long outer plumes that curve gracefully and 14 delicate lace-like feathers that shimmer when spread. While dancing, the male sings a nonstop medley of calls, weaving together his own notes with an astonishing array of mimicked sounds.

Young males can spend up to seven years perfecting their song and dance routine before they’re ready to impress females. Their mimicry is so perfect that even other birds can be fooled, and some individuals have been known to copy the calls of more than 20 different species in a single performance. Their courtship stages, or “display mounds,” can be used year after year, almost like an outdoor concert venue. And while their tails are dazzling, they take years to fully develop, so watching a young male practice his routine with a half-grown tail can look both earnest and comical.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Australia

LC

2018