Photo: Fir0002 / GFDL 1.2 (Wikimedia Commons)
Superb Lyrebird
Menura novaehollandiae
Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) is a member of the Menuridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 973 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Menuridae Lyrebirds
- Genus Menura
- Species novaehollandiae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 973 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Menuridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Superb Lyrebird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Superb Lyrebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) is a species of bird in the Menuridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU se Australia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 973 g, with a wing length of about 28.1 cm and a tail of around 58.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 325,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Superb Lyrebird?
The Superb Lyrebird is a very large bird that weighs around 973 g.
Where does the Superb Lyrebird live?
The Superb Lyrebird is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU se Australia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Superb Lyrebird belong to?
The Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) belongs to the Menuridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Superb Lyrebird eat?
The Superb Lyrebird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Superb Lyrebird migrate?
The Superb Lyrebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Superb Lyrebird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Superb Lyrebird make?
1 real field recording of the Superb Lyrebird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Superb Lyrebird's range?
The Superb Lyrebird has a mapped global range of about 325,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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