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15

Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) Alternate name(s): "Lyre-bird*", "Lyretail Menura", "Native Pheasant*" Aboriginal name(s): "buln-buln"/"puln puln" [tjapwurrung, djadjawurrung]; "wiwieringgere" Size: male 80-95 cm; female 75-85 cm Weight: 0.9-1.2 kg (male), 0.7-1.0 kg (female)

Australia: Family Group 15 Family Group 15 Table Noisy Pitta Rainbow Pitta Superb Lyrebird Albert's Lyrebird Noisy Scrub-bird Rufous Scrub-bird Rufous Bristlebird Western Bristlebird Black-tailed Treecreeper Red-browed Treecreeper White-browed Treecreeper Brown Treecreeper Rufous Treecreeper White-throated Treecreeper Hoopoe Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Superb Lyrebirds are the larger of two species of Australian lyrebirds. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male Superb Lyrebirds have a dark-brown back, from the head to the rump. The front is grey-brown, except for the throat, which has a rufous tint. The characteristic feature is the tail, with silvery filamentary feathers on the inside and one outer "lyre" feather on either side. The lyre feathers are silvery-grey, with chestnut bands. Female Superb Lyrebirds have a body plumage that is similar to males', but they have a long dark-brown tail, with feathers that curve downward at the end. They lack both filamentaries and lyre feathers. The bill of both sexes is dark-grey, the irises are dark and the feet and long legs are grey. Twitcher's tip Compared to Albert's Lyrebirds, the males' outer lyre feathers are lighter of colour and have a more intricate pattern. The throat of Superb Lyrebirds is plainer than that of Albert's Lyrebirds.

Taxonomy, classification See Superb Lyrebird at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Superb Lyrebird is available HERE . All three races of Superb Lyrebirds are endemic to Australia and they all live in the hills of the Great Dividing Range, in NSW and VIC. In northern NSW, starting at Barrington Tops NP (the Hunter River estuary and further North), Superb Lyrebirds of race "edwardi" are found. The range of nominate race "novaehollandiae" extends from Wadbilliga National Park in the South to Watagans NP in the North. Race "victoriae" lives to the West and South of Wadbilliga NP to just East of Melbourne, VIC. In addition, there is an introduced population in the southern central part of Tasmania. Superb Lyrebirds are usually found in relatively dense, often wet forest, preferably with a lot of undergrowth. Where to look? How to find this species? If, in wooded areas with dense undergrowth, one gets the impression that there are many different bird species calling from one spot, all on or near the ground, it is most likely that one is listening to the mimicking calls of a Superb Lyrebird.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "novaehollandiae" Lots of Superb Lyrebirds, race "novaehollandiae", were heard (and two also seen) by us in both Jilliby SCA and Watagans NP, about 50 km West of Newcastle, NSW, in June 2009 and again in July 2013. R. Plumtree reports spotting a Superb Lyrebird, race "novaehollandiae", at Biamanga NP, NSW South Coast, in 2008. D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Superb Lyrebird, race "novaehollandiae", in Blue Mountains NP, NSW, in March 2015. We spotted a Superb Lyrebird, race "novaehollandiae", at Scenic World, Blue Mountains, NSW, in August 2015. The first time we spotted a Superb Lyrebird, race "novaehollandiae", on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range was at Munghorn Gap NR near Mudgee, NSW, in December 2015. A Superb Lyrebird, race "novaehollandiae", was also found by us at Dunn's Swamp, Wollemi NP, in October 2016. Race "victoriae" R. Plumtreereports spotting Superb Lyrebirds, race "victoriae", off the Old Coach Road, near Omeo, East Gippsland, VIC, in May 2014. Race "edwardi" A Superb Lyrebird, "edwardi", was first spotted by us in October 2007 in Washpool NP. Many more were heard and seen at Dorrigo NP, northern NSW, during various visits. M. Mearns reports spotting a Superb Lyrebird, "edwardi", at New England NP, NSW, in September 2014. The first time we spotted a Superb Lyrebird, race "edwardi", on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range was also at Girraween NP, southern QLD, in July 2009, and 20 km North of Tenterfield, NSW, in June 2015. M. Eaton reports spotting Superb Lyrebirds, "edwardi", at Gloucester Tops, in Barrington Tops NP, NSW, in December 2019. This location is at the southern end of the race's range.

Photos

Race "novaehollandiae"

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a male Superb Lyrebird scratching through mud in a wet gully
[Scenic World, Blue Mountains, NSW, August 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a male Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Blue Mountains NP, NSW, March 2015]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Head of Cuttagee Road, Biamanga NP, NSW, 2008]

Near-frontal view of the same female Superb Lyrebird as shown above (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Head of Cuttagee Road, Biamanga NP, NSW, 2008]

Lateral view of a female Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Head of Cuttagee Road, Biamanga NP, NSW, 2008]

Lateral view of a female Superb Lyrebird foraging in wet undergrowth
[Dunn's Swamp, Wollemi NP, NSW, October 2016]

Race "victoriae"

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a male Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Omeo, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2014]

Closer lateral view of a male Superb Lyrebird, with only the head and tail clearly visible (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree
[Near Omeo, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a male Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree
[Near Omeo, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2014]

Race "edwardi"

ADULT

MALE

Near-lateral view of a male Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[New England NP, NSW, September 2014]

Lateral view of a male Superb Lyrebird foraging in litter (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[New England NP, NSW, September 2014]

Lateral view of a male Superb Lyrebird foraging in litter (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oxley Wild Rivers NP, NSW, June 2017]

Dorsal view of a male Superb Lyrebird, with a clear view of the filamentary tail feathers (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oxley Wild Rivers NP, NSW, June 2017]

FEMALE

Near-lateral view of a female Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Barrington Tops NP, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral view of a female Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Barrington Tops NP, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral view of a female Superb Lyrebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Barrington Tops NP, NSW, December 2019]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

In an attempt to impress females, male Superb Lyrebirds mimic many different other bird calls, other animals and sounds such as mobile phone ringtones. How does one tell a Lyrebird's mimic from the original call/sound? Our experience is that many Lyrebirds "overdo" things. Their call, which is designed to draw attention and impress, is often more voluminous, more virtuose and more elaborate than the original. Also, if one has the impression that there are 10 or more different bird species congregating in the same area in dark underbrush, the likelihood is high that none of those whose calls are heard is actually present...

Male Superb Lyrebirds have little mounds that they use as arenas for their displays
[Watagans NP, NSW, June 2009]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

suplyre_rp_20140511.mp3	victoriae (VIC)	Mimicry (several species)	© RP
suplyre_20161217_2.m4a	novaehollandiae (Ctl NSW)	Male courting female?	© MD
suplyre_20161217.m4a	novaehollandiae (Ctl NSW)	Male courting female?	© MD
suplyre_20161006.mp3	novaehollandiae (E NSW)	Q&A? (female +?)	© MD
suplyre_20150328_2.m4a	edwardi (NE NSW)	Mimicry (Eastern Whipbird)	© MD
suplyre_20150328.m4a	edwardi (NE NSW)	Mimicry (Eastern Whipbird)	© MD

More Superb Lyrebird sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Mon, 4 January 2021, 3:13 +00:00