Menuridae

Lyrebirds are two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds from the genus Menura, known for their impressive mimicry of natural and artificial sounds and the male’s striking tail during courtship displays. They are among Australia’s best-known native birds, with unique plumes of neutral-colored tail feathers.

The classification of lyrebirds has a complicated history. Major-General Thomas Davies described the superb lyrebird (Menura superba) in an 1800 presentation, but John Latham named it Menura novaehollandiae in 1801, which is the accepted name. The name “Menura” refers to the crescent-shaped patterns on the bird’s tail feathers, resembling a lyre.

Initially thought to be related to galliform birds like partridges and pheasants, they were eventually classified into their own family, Menuridae, in 1840. Lyrebirds are now believed to be closely related to scrub-birds, with potential controversial ties to bowerbirds.

These large passerine birds are primarily ground dwellers with strong legs and short rounded wings, making them poor fliers. Lyrebirds measure between 31 to 39 inches in length, with males slightly larger than females. The superb lyrebird inhabits rainforests in Victoria, New South Wales, and southeast Queensland, while Albert’s lyrebird is restricted to a small area in southern Queensland.

Lyrebirds, particularly the Albert’s lyrebird, are shy and elusive, making their behavior hard to study. They exhibit vigilant behavior when sensing danger by pausing to scan their surroundings and either fleeing or freezing in place. These ground-feeding birds primarily consume invertebrates like insects, spiders, and earthworms, using their feet to scratch through leaf litter. This behavior helps aerate the soil and fosters microhabitats, leading to increased biodiversity and healthier forest ecosystems.

Lyrebirds can live up to 30 years and have long breeding cycles, starting at six to eight years for males and five to six for females. Males defend territories that may include up to eight females, creating display platforms for courtship. Breeding typically occurs during the winter, and females raise the chicks alone after laying a single egg, which is incubated for over 50 days.

Song is a prominent feature of lyrebird behavior, peaking during the breeding season (June to August), when males may sing for hours. Their songs incorporate both their own sounds and mimicry of various species, including other birds and even human-made noises like chainsaws and alarms. Female lyrebirds also mimic sounds while foraging and defending their nests, although they remain silent during courtship. Both species have unique vocalizations, including ‘whistle songs,’ and some have been recognized in Australia’s Sounds of Australia registry.

Until the 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season, superb lyrebirds were not considered threatened. However, the bushfires severely damaged their wet-forest habitats, which had previously been protected due to their moisture content. Albert’s lyrebird, listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, was re-assessed to near threatened in 2009 due to effective habitat management. Despite recovering from past habitat destruction, the superb lyrebird’s status may change from “common” to “threatened” because of recent bushfires. Additionally, long-term threats include predation by cats and foxes and human population pressure..