The Fanciest Bird in the World: Superb Lyrebird

The Fanciest Bird in the World: Superb Lyrebird

What’s happening: The male Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) puts the many ways to be fancy together in dazzling fashion. On a carefully cleared patch of the forest floor, he begins the courtship display by fanning elaborate tail plumes over his head and quivering them to achieve a shimmering effect. He then coordinates a precisely timed song-and-dance sequence, and finishes off with a rapid-fire recital of songs borrowed from other species. When the evolutionary pressure to impress mates is at its strongest, the results can look and sound downright bizarre.

Recorded in 2014 by Anastasia Dalziell (Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Neurobiology and Behavior Department Cornell University) and Justin Welbergen (Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney).