What is a lyrebird?

Answer 1

There are two species of lyrebird, both native to Australia.

The Superb lyrebird lives in forestbushland east of the Great Dividing Range, which runs along the eastern coast from northern Australia to the far south. Albert's lyrebird lives only within a small area of sub-tropical rainforest near the Queensland/New South Wales border.

Answer 2

The lyrebird is an unusual bird native to Australia. It gained its name because the male Superb Lyrebird's tail always has the lyre-shape. Its tail feathers are ornately curved, and when on display for a female, can assume the shape of the stringed intrument known as the lyre.

Lyrebirds primarily eat insects, Spiders, beetles and worms which they scratch from the ground using their claws.

Lyrebirds are well known for their remarkable ability to realistically mimic a variety of sounds, from the calls of other bird species, to mechanical noises such as camera shutters and chainsaws.

Answer 3

Lyrebirds are found in Australia, and limited to the eastern coastal regions.

• The Superb Lyrebird lives in the south-eastern Australian mainland, from southeast Queensland down to southern Tasmania. Its habitat is moist forests, where it spends most of its time on the ground but roosts in trees at night.
• Albert's lyrebird is found in rainforest and wet open forest, in south-east corner of Queensland and far north-east NSW. In NSW it is found inland to the Border Ranges, and south to the coastal range south west of Ballina.

Answer 4

No. The conservation status of the Superb Lyrebird in Australia is "secure" both federally and in New South Wales.

Albert's Lyrebird is listed as "vulnerable".

Answer 5

the lyrebird is the size of a rooster