The impossible claim

The superb lyrebird steals most of its song — up to 70–80% of a male’s vocal output can be other birds’ voices, and the species can also copy chainsaws, camera shutters, alarms and even crying babies.

The verified facts

The superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) is one of nature’s greatest vocal mimics:

  • The voice theft: up to ~70–80% of a male’s vocal output can be mimicry — the range depends on display type and how the song is measured (Robinson 1974; Robinson & Curtis 1996; a 1986 ACT study found 70–90%)
  • The repertoire: one male can carry the calls of roughly 20–25 bird species, learned socially from older lyrebirds and the local forest — a culturally transmitted repertoire, not pure instinct
  • The machines: lyrebirds can reproduce human-made sounds —chainsaws, camera shutters, car alarms, fire sirens, even a crying baby — though the famous ‘chainsaw lyrebird’ is an exceptional individual, not routine wild behaviour. They copy sound; they don’t speak
  • The stage: males rake and maintain 10–15 circular display mounds (1–2 m across) spotlessly clear of leaf litter each breeding season
  • The show: on a mound the male fans his enormous tail — two wide S-curved outer plumes frame a shimmering silver fan —and sings while dancing for up to about 20 minutes
  • The deep time: lyrebird fossils date back about 15 million years (Menura tyawanoides, Riversleigh); an ancient Australian songbird lineage
  • Ground life: ground-dwelling forest birds, 80–100 cm long including the tail, ~1 kg body weight; they vocalize year-round but display in season

The famous ‘Chook the lyrebird’ recordings show individual exception — the regular wild repertoire remains dominated by local forest sounds.

Watch

🎬 See the Short on YouTube — This Bird Imitates Chainsaws, Alarms… and Other Birds

Sources

  • Robinson, F. N. (1974) & Robinson & Curtis (1996). Vocal mimicry in the superb lyrebird; ABSA journal re-publication.
  • NSW Environment & Heritage. Lyrebird facts — display mounds and courtship.
  • Nature Communications / Royal Society (2021–2022). Lyrebird display context: recital vs dance displays (rspb.2021.2498; 10.1007/s10682-022-10200-w).
  • Australian Museum. Superb Lyrebird — Menura novaehollandiae.

Part of Impossible Creatures — every fact verified, every creature real. Watch the Shorts at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HSHuplXeZ14.