lyrebird

Everyday

A large Australian bird that lives on the forest floor; the male has a long tail shaped like a lyre (an old harp) and is famous for copying almost any sound it hears. tree →

In the lessons

In nature lessons the lyrebird is a champion copycat: it can copy other birds, chainsaws, camera clicks and car alarms. It is on the Australian ten-cent coin. Phrases: «superb lyrebird».

Examples

• The lyrebird copied the sound of a camera. tree →
• The male lyrebird spreads its tail to impress females. tree →
• You can see a lyrebird on the Australian ten-cent coin. tree →
• Lyrebirds live in the forests of south-east Australia. tree →
• A lyrebird can copy more than twenty other birds. tree →

Note

One word. «Lyre» sounds like «liar» but is a musical instrument.