These birds are fed a diet of commercial insectivore pellets, supplemented with crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and other insects. Lyrebirds do not reproduce until they are between 5 and 8 years old. ", Loyn, R.H. & J.A. Males are territorial during the breeding season. When responding to threats, lyrebirds will freeze, sound an alert call, or seek cover and hide. Albert's Lyrebird is restricted to a small area of far south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern NSW. Moist forests. Borderland inhabitants on this list include the rufous scrub bird (Atrichornis rufescens) and Albert’s lyrebird (Menura alberti), which is found nowhere else in the world. [4], Albert's lyrebird is a ground-dwelling bird with the female reaching approximately 75 cm (30 in) in length and males 90 cm (35 in). When foraging on the ground they scratch among debris, turn over leaves and dig into soil in search of invertebrate prey;[6] birds foraging in ephiphytes were observed scratching and pecking. N. Enright et al.Resistance and resilience to changing climate and fire regime depend on plant functional traits.Journal of Ecology. They are chestnut-brown in colour with a rufous undertail, rump and throat. Female lyrebirds build their own nests and incubate the eggs alone. The Albert lyrebird is named after Prince Albert and usually lives in New South Wales and Queensland. [2], The total population of Albert's lyrebirds is estimated at only 3,500 breeding birds [3] and it has one of the smallest distributional ranges of any bird on the continent. They usually find food on the ground, particularly in areas with deep moist leaf litter and fallen logs,[6] but they also forage occasionally in epiphytic ferns. One other lyrebird found in Australia is Albert's Lyrebird, ... Habitat: It is a ground-dwelling species in moist forests, but roosts in trees at night. It's range is limited to the higher altitude ranges along the Sub Coastal Queensland / New South Wales border. Much of the lyrebird's habitat was cleared during the 19th century. A male Superb Lyrebird is featured on the reverse of the Australian 10 cent coin. This species of lyrebird was also introduced to Tasmania in the 19th century. The largest single population is found on the Lamington Plateau. There is an isolated population to the south at Uralba Nature Reserve in the Blackwall Range (Higgins et al. Lyrebirds look as interesting as they sound. They are also found in some parts of Melbourne, and Sydney. [2], The major threats to Albert's lyrebird include the intense management of forests and the replacement of optimal habitat with plantations of unsuitable species, such as eucalypts or hoop pines;[3] invasion of logged or otherwise damaged habitat by weeds, especially Lantana camara, which reduces suitability of the habitat; damage to habitat by grazing stock; encroachment of urban or rural development close to habitat of Albert's lyrebirds; and predation by introduced red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), feral dogs and cats, and domestic dogs and cats, where the birds are located close to human settlements. [9], Clutch-size is a single egg. Albert’s lyrebird scratches up leaf litter looking for insects (like beetles) and their larvae. 2001). The Menura alberti is a small ground dwelling bird that is rare and only lives in Australia. A large concentration is found in the Mount Warning area. The female builds a dome-shaped nest of sticks, which can be on the ground, on rocks, within tree stumps, or in tree ferns and caves. They are namely: 1. Because they are so hard to see and track, not much is known about the details of their lifestyle, so if you do see one, it might be a good idea to take notes in case your observations are scientifically valuable. Albert's lyrebird (Menura alberti) is a timid, pheasant-sized songbird which is endemic to subtropical rainforests of Australia, in a small area on the state border between New South Wales and Queensland. These birds require a large amount and variety of insects to keep them healthy, and this can be difficult to provide. There are two species of lyrebird – the superb and the Albert’s – and both occur only in Australia. In addition to their vocal skills, you will find that they are quite unique creatures. Habitat and Distribution (where they are found) Albert's lyrebird is found mostly in rainforests and wet forests in Australia in the mountains of southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. There are two species of Lyrebirds that make up the genus “Menura” as well as the family “Menuridae”. Low hanging branches should be provided to allow easy climbing and exploring opportunities. "Distributional ecology of the Albert's Lyrebird, Menura alberti, in north-east New South Wales." "Albert's lyrebird foraging from epiphytes in rainforest sub-canopy. Lyrebirds are among Australia's best-known native birds. In comparisons of wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest with equivalent climate and moisture index, higher densities always occur in wet sclerophyll forest and are associated with the greater weights of litter and logs and slower rates of litter decomposition. The two different species of lyrebirds are found in slightly different habitats.