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Judi Lynn

(163,549 posts)
Sun Jun 1, 2025, 07:15 PM Jun 1

Meet The Australian Bird Whose Tail Is Prettier Than A Peacock's. Hint: It's Also One Of The Most Unique Singers

By Scott Travers, Contributor. I write about the world of biology.

Jun 01, 2025, 09:30am EDT



The peacock is the bird most well-known for its radiant tail plumage. But that’s not to say it’s the only bird with a particularly well-constructed rear end. Here’s another avian species that rivals the peacock for tail plumage supremacy.
getty

Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder.

Well, if you ask this biologist to weigh in on the question of birds with the prettiest tail feathers, I’d tell you to take a look at the exquisite backside of Australia’s superb lyrebird. Sure, its plumage may not be as big or ostentatious as the peacock’s – though, to be fair, ostentatiousness is an important quality as these feathers have evolved to capture the attention of potential mates. But it is every bit as intricate and well-colored.

In fact, the sheer beauty of its plumage almost caused the superb lyrebird, and its smaller cousin, the northern lyrebird, to go extinct around the turn of the 20th century, as its radiant tail feathers were highly valued in the construction of women’s hats (like these). Since then, Australia’s population of lyrebirds has recovered and stabilized.

There’s a sad irony here: the radiant plumage of the male lyrebird – evolved to increase its mating opportunities with female lyrebirds – nearly led to its demise due to demand from humans who wanted to use it for more or less the same evolutionary reason. Perhaps the worst part of the story is that the lyrebird isn’t alone in this regard; many species have been overhunted due to being viewed as a sought-after fashion accessory, and some went extinct because of it.

(Sidebar: Discover the surprising link between the global bird extinction crisis and the most valuable package lost aboard the Titanic.)

We can, and should, feel sad for the lyrebirds needlessly killed in pursuit of crafting a more fashionable hat, but I’ll give you one scientific fact that might temper your pity. According to recent research published in Current Biology, male lyrebirds – who typically have a mellifluous chirp – sometimes mimic the sound of a mobbing flock of birds during courtship and copulation. This is presumably done to discourage their female target from leaving their protective company when a mating opportunity arises.

More:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2025/06/01/meet-the-australian-bird-whose-tail-is-prettier-than-a-peacocks-hint-its-also-one-of-the-most-unique-singers/














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Meet The Australian Bird Whose Tail Is Prettier Than A Peacock's. Hint: It's Also One Of The Most Unique Singers (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 1 OP
Gorgeous bird! SheltieLover Jun 1 #1
Hi, SheltieLover. TY! Judi Lynn Yesterday #12
:) Solly Mack Jun 1 #2
:) Judi Lynn Yesterday #13
Amazing creatures wendyb-NC Jun 1 #3
Here's hoping somehow what is left of living creatures will be finally spared. Judi Lynn Yesterday #14
Wow! Thanks so much for posting! Rhiannon12866 Jun 1 #4
Thank you! Judi Lynn Yesterday #15
Cool birdy, thanks for sharing. 🙂 Dave Bowman Jun 1 #5
Thank you! Judi Lynn Yesterday #16
Lyrebirds aresome of the best mimics out there Warpy Jun 1 #6
Incredible videos! OMG! Judi Lynn Yesterday #9
"Prettier Than a Peacock"? wolfie001 Jun 1 #7
It would be impossible to top peacocks, for sure! Judi Lynn Yesterday #10
Hi Judi! wolfie001 Yesterday #17
Check out this video of a Lyrebird mimicking the evacuation alarm at Taronga Zoo groundloop Jun 1 #8
That bird is really quick! It's doubtful it hears the evacuation call often! Judi Lynn Yesterday #11

wendyb-NC

(4,303 posts)
3. Amazing creatures
Sun Jun 1, 2025, 09:14 PM
Jun 1

That precious bird puts on quite a show, with the movements of his tail feathers. The activation of the feathers changes his whole being. In his mating demonstration. he seems to go from everyday bird, to a living supernatural bird being, quite a dance.

I am really glad that conservation, spurred by indignation toward the senseless loss of fellow creatures and/or compassion, to realize the tragedy of losing them (by extinction caused by humans, for frivolous purposes) and has enabled this bird and other animal populations to continue.

Fascinating article.

Judi Lynn

(163,549 posts)
14. Here's hoping somehow what is left of living creatures will be finally spared.
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 07:00 AM
Yesterday

Beings like these little guys really could provoke thought for anyone considering their actual skill and intelligence, and move them to develop real respect for other life forms.

Thank you.

Warpy

(113,508 posts)
6. Lyrebirds aresome of the best mimics out there
Sun Jun 1, 2025, 10:08 PM
Jun 1

Lyrebird Mimicking Chainsaws, Cameras, Cars and Even People!



Australia also has some pretty flashy spiders, too--don't be creeped out, they're smaller than the nail on your pinkie




The music must've been chosen for sheer irony because stayin' alive is something they don't do. If the female doesn't like his looks or his dance moves, she eats him. If she does like them, he mates with her...then she eats him.

Judi Lynn

(163,549 posts)
9. Incredible videos! OMG!
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:16 AM
Yesterday

Without a doubt these birds have driven humans and other animals completely berserk! Fascinating!

Never had a clue spiders like the ones in the video ever existed! Their information is so strange, too!

Music fit exactly. Hard to forget, considering the larger picture!

Thank you!

Judi Lynn

(163,549 posts)
10. It would be impossible to top peacocks, for sure!
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:22 AM
Yesterday

I was a child when I was approached by one walking around in a park and it seemed taller than me when it stood a few feet away, and I was transfixed. Unbelievably beautiful. I never, ever got that image out of my mind.

It made no noise whatsoever, simply stood quietly for a long time during which I simply gawked in amazement. At some point it wandered away, I guess. It was overwhelming.

groundloop

(13,025 posts)
8. Check out this video of a Lyrebird mimicking the evacuation alarm at Taronga Zoo
Sun Jun 1, 2025, 10:19 PM
Jun 1



(While in Sydney last year we took a behind-the-scenes tour at Taronga Zoo, super awesome place and experience. )

Judi Lynn

(163,549 posts)
11. That bird is really quick! It's doubtful it hears the evacuation call often!
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:31 AM
Yesterday

Adding the screeching baby is almost unnecessary!

What a wonderful mimic he is, and a real natural wonder by all means! Gives one a lot to think about.

Thanks, a lot.

On edit:

I just went to google images to look at views of Taronga Zoo, and was stunned by the beautiful zoo! It looks amazing.

Here's the link to the google images page with tons of views. It's a place someone could easily spend so much time!

It was sobering to see the image of a wonderful koala in a photo, after knowing how destructive the Astralian fires have been on wildlife populations. Sure hope new ways of dealing with fire can be developed sooner than expected.

Link:

https://tinyurl.com/329tebrw

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