Superb Lyrebird

Slaty- lyrebird ( Menura novaehollandiae )

The slaty- lyrebird ( Menura novaehollandiae ), also known as splendor lyrebird is an Headquartered in eastern Australia and Tasmania Singvogelart.

Features

The slaty- lyrebird has a pheasant -like shape and strong legs. The male is up to 100 centimeters long, the females up to 86 centimeters. The plumage is mainly brown. The male has one to about 60 centimeters long lyre- shaped tail train which is black above and reddish brown, silvery below. The tail of the female is shorter and not lyre-shaped.

Habitat

The slaty- lyrebird lives in temperate and subtropical rainforests. He sleeps in trees.

Way of life

The bird is looking mostly at the ground for food, he ausscharrt with the legs. It eats insects, worms, snails and other benthic animals.

The courtship of the male consists of songs and the unfolding of the tail train over the body. A male mates with several females. Each female builds a nest on the ground, on a tree stump, tree fern or tree from plant parts. For upholstery it uses springs. The female lays a single, gray to purplish brown, dark speckled egg. Without the support of the male, the female incubates the egg and the chick pulls great.

In addition to "own" Call (" Republic Republic " or " Bilik Bilik " ) mimics the slaty - lyrebird voices of other birds and mammals calls for. Even environmental sounds such as beeps of locomotives, the clicking of cameras or the sounds of chain saws be imitated. Thus, the science historian Barbara Wittmann, the splendor lyrebird is probably the only animal that have integrated the noise of the disappearance of his own living space in his singing.

Subspecies

• Menura novaehollandiae Edwardi
• Menura novaehollandiae novaehollandiae
• Menura novaehollandiae victoriae