Who Do Lyrebirds Mimic?

Lyrebirds are famous for their mimicry, but a new study suggests their calls aren't always "honest" signals. It found when a female lyrebird goes to leave a male who is trying to mate with her, he mimics the sound of a flock of birds sounding an alarm that a predator is nearby.

Can lyrebirds mimic humans?

Lyrebirds have been recorded mimicking human sounds such as a mill whistle, a cross-cut saw, chainsaws, car engines and car alarms, fire alarms, rifle-shots, camera shutters, dogs barking, crying babies, music, mobile phone ring tones, and even the human voice.

Do lyrebirds have their own sound?

Instead of the usual four pairs of syringeal muscles of other songbirds, lyrebirds have only three pairs. ... While mimicry forms most of their vocal repertoire, lyrebirds also have their own songs and calls. While the “territorial” song can be melodious, the “invitation-display” call sounds mechanical to human ears.