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lyrebird
[ lahyuhr-burd ]
noun
- an Australian passerine bird of the genus Menura, the male of which has a long tail that is lyrate when spread.
lyrebird
/ ˈlaɪəˌbɜːd /
noun
- either of two pheasant-like Australian birds, Menura superba and M. alberti, constituting the family Menuridae: during courtship displays, the male spreads its tail into the shape of a lyre
Example Sentences
Because the lyrebird mimics multiple alarm calls in particular, researchers aren’t sure if it’s also trying to sound an alarm or just showing off for mates.
The male superb lyrebird lives up to its name with its excellent vocal abilities, mimicking nearly any sound it hears in its Australian forest home — even chainsaws and cameras.
Superb lyrebirds — native to forested parts of southeastern Australia — have a flair for theatrics.
The lyrebirds appear to be attempting to recreate the specific ecological soundscape associated with the arrival of a predator, researchers report February 25 in Current Biology.
Why lyrebirds do this isn’t yet clear, but the finding is the first time that an individual bird has been observed mimicking the sounds of multiple bird species simultaneously.
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