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Superb Lyrebird

Menura novaehollandiae

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernEndemicInvertebratesForestDomed nestLarge · 973 g
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), photo 1
Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), photo 2
Photo: John Manger, CSIRO · CC BY 3.0
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), photo 3
Photo: Adolf Bernhard Meyer (1840-1911) · Public domain
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), photo 4
Photo: Thomas Davies · Public domain
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), photo 5
Photo: John Tann from Sydney, Australia · CC BY 2.0
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), photo 6
Photo: John Manger, CSIRO · CC BY 3.0
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), photo 7
Photo: Rexness · CC BY 2.0
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), photo 8
Photo: State Government Photographer · CC0

What the Superb Lyrebird sounds like

Sonogram of the Superb Lyrebird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by James Ray · Song · Blue Mountains (near Blue Mountains National Park), Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales, Australia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Superb Lyrebird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by James Ray · Song · Faulconbridge, Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales, Australia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Superb Lyrebird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by James Ray · Call, imitation, song · Faulconbridge, Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales, Australia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The superb lyrebird is a large, pheasant-sized terrestrial passerine, ranging in length from 860 mm (34 in) for the female to 1 m (39 in) for the male. Females weigh around 0.9 kg (2.0 lb), and males weigh around 1.1 kg (2.4 lb). The plumage colour is mainly dark brown on the upper body, with greyish-brown underparts and red-tinged flight feathers, its feathers are brighter tail than that of Albert's lyrebirds. The wings are short and round, and are only capable of weak flight, being mainly used for balance or for gliding from trees to the ground.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Superb Lyrebird

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is March, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Superb Lyrebird

Regular range

The map shades 1 country with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Australia

About the Superb Lyrebird

The superb lyrebird is an Australian passerine songbird, one of two species from the family Menuridae, with the other being the much rarer Albert's lyrebird. One of the world's largest songbirds, the superb lyrebird is renowned for its elaborate tail and courtship displays, and for its excellent mimicry. The species is endemic to Australia and is found in forest in the southeast of the country. According to David Attenborough, the superb lyrebird displays one of the most sophisticated voice skills within the animal kingdom—"the most elaborate, the most complex, and the most beautiful".

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Albert's Lyrebird (Menura alberti) Albert's LyrebirdMenura albertiAlbert's lyrebird is a ground-dwelling bird.

Side by side: Albert's Lyrebird vs Superb Lyrebird

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