The Un-Masked Singer

It had been hot and sweaty in the Dandenongs, but, at long last, the stifling heat of the day was finally subsiding.  Right on cue a forest full of birds started singing, one after another they took up the mic, blasting out a short stanza of their greatest hits. Curiously this medley of melodies was coming from the same location and therein lay the clue to the culprit.

The singer finally revealed herself. Yes, that’s right ‘herself’. She perched brazenly in a bush close at hand, like any Prima Donna would.

Superb Lyrebird female, Lyrebird Walk, Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges 2nd dec 2024 © Jeff Clarke

Then the vocals were coming in stereo. It was a sing-off between two lady lyrebirds. Who knew female lyrebirds sang? Well according to the published evidence, virtually nobody. The first published paper on the subject ‘Elaborate Mimetic Vocal Displays by Female Superb Lyrebirds’ - Anastasia H. Dalziell & Justin A. Welbergen, was only published in April 2016.

It turns out that female Lyrebirds along with some 64% of a 1000 songbird species sampled exhibit clear song elements in their vocalisations. This runs counter to the accepted argument put forward for centuries that, barring a few notable examples, e.g. European Robin, female birds don’t sing. I simplify, but that was the basic stance of the scientific community.

In the past I’ve been guilty of repeating this falsehood myself, because that was the accepted wisdom. Science is riddled with blatant misogyny.

My Superb Lyrebird was colour banded (ringed). Left leg, orange - white - white, she had been ringed as a nestling, was over seven years old and had moved over 2km from her natal site. This information came courtesy of the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme.

Superb Lyrebird female. Colour Banded Orange - White - White, Metal Band Number: 111-34931 © Jeff Clarke

I still haven’t seen a male Superb Lyrebird, but I don’t need to, I’ve watched the doyenne of the forest strut her stuff.