Man Goes On A Walk In The Australian Wilderness, Then He Comes Across An Incredibly Rare Lyrebird

The lyrebird is native to Australia and known for its incredible ability to mimic sounds, from mechanical noises to human speech.

@_ghostpanther/TikTokThe lyrebird spotted in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

The stereotype about Australia is that everything living there can kill you. There’s some truth to this statement. For example, the country is home to the blue dragon slug, a sea creature with an immensely painful sting. There’s also the deadly blue-ringed octopus, a host of venomous snakes, and two species of spiders with bites that can be lethal to humans.

But focusing on the dangers posed by some of these animals makes it easy to forget just how many other unique and beautiful species can be found in the country. One man recently stumbled upon one of those creatures — and noticed something peculiar about it.

The Unique Lyrebird Of Australia

The lyrebird, which is native to Australia, has a skill that has to be seen to be believed.

In a video with over 9.1 million views, TikTok user @_ghostpanther documented an “extremely rare wildlife encounter” he had with the bird in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. “Check this thing out,” he says.

The man then shows the bird hopping around with its plumage raised. While its feathers are unique, what makes the creature even more distinct is the variety of sounds that it makes. Between chirps, the creature lets out a string of mechanical-sounding whirrs. In a follow-up video, it makes sounds similar to other animals.

“The f—k is that?” the man asks in the video.

Fir0002/Wikimedia CommonsThe superb lyrebird, one of the two lyrebird species found in Australia.

Indeed, the lyrebird is known for its incredible ability to mimic sounds. The birds do have their own calls — a mix of clear whistles, cackles, and shrieks — but they’re difficult to distinguish from their mimicry, as they will copy the noises of just about anything.

A famous clip from BBC Earth shows how a superb lyrebird can copy everything from the sound of a chainsaw to the click and whirr of a camera shutter. Lyrebirds can even imitate human speech.

So, what purpose does this mimicry serve for the birds?

Why Do Lyrebirds Imitate Sounds?

It’s believed that the type of behavior observed by the TikToker is a mating ritual.

Lyrebirds will use their mimicry to attract a mate — not only by impressing them, but by playing tricks on them. In a 2021 study published in Current Biology, a male lyrebird was recorded imitating the sound of a flock of birds. This was done, it seems, to convince a female lyrebird that she was in danger and that she should stay with the male.

The lyrebird also dances. This sometimes involves choosing a specific place to show off and then shaking vines or sticks around them to exaggerate their performance. However, a male bird may also simply show off his plumage and walk around a female, making a variety of sounds in an attempt to impress her.

While it’s not rare to hear a lyrebird in Australia, it’s less common to see one. They are not endangered, but they can be shy. This is why those looking to see a lyrebird in the wild are advised to go to parks at times when there are not many people present.

In the TikToker’s case, he says in the caption of one of his videos that his time with the lyrebird was a “magical encounter that I’ll never forget.” Given their tendency to imitate the noises around them, it’s possible the lyrebird won’t forget it either — and will mimic some of the TikToker’s words for his next potential mate.

All That’s Interesting reached out to @_ghostpanther via email.

After reading about the lyrebird of Australia, meet the quokka, Australia’s smiling marsupial. Then, learn about the extinction of the Tasmanian tiger.