Superb Lyrebird

The Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) is an Australian songbird, one of two species from the family Menuridae. It is one of the biggest songbirds in the world and is well known for its complex courtship and tail displays as well as its superb mimicry. The species is indigenous to Australia and can be found in southeast Australian forests. According to David Attenborough, the magnificent lyrebird exhibits the animal kingdom's most advanced vocal abilities - "the most elaborate, the most complex, and the most beautiful".

It is well known that lyrebirds have elaborate tails. Male adults have tails that can measure up to 70 cm in length and contain sixteen feathers. The outer two feathers, known as the lyrates, are broad S-shaped, and have brown and buff coloring. They were originally given this name because they resembled a lyre. Twelve filamentaries, feathers with malleable silvery barbs, are located between the lyrates. Two silvery median feathers may be seen in the middle of the tail. With shorter lyrates and plain, wide feathers in place of the filamentary, the female's tail is less ornamented. Juveniles of both sexes lack decorative tail feathers. Through a series of annual molts, the structure and patterning of the feathers change to become the mature bird's tail plumage.