As part of their courtship displays, male Australian lyrebirds will mimic the sounds of other animals. But since humans have expanded into the southern continent, these birds have learned to mimic the sounds of cars, dogs, airplanes, and many other noises of civilization. The introduction of wildlife biologists into the birds’ habitat has resulted in an adaptive twist that has been described by behavioural scientists as hilarious. The birds have learned to mimic the sounds of a camera shutter being released. Compare recordings of a lyrebird and a photograph being taken with a Nikon manual, and you won’t be able to tell the difference.
Pictured right is a male lyrebird courting a female. Males will fan their tail feathers in such a way that they look like string instruments, hence the name “lyre.”
