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Superb Lyrebird


Superb Lyrebird
Photo Information
Copyright: Lindsay Cooke (cookie10) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 14 W: 0 N: 41] (400)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark 111, Canon EF 500 f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/4, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-12 0:30
Viewed: 570
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
There are two species in the family of lyrebirds - the superb lyrebird and the Albert's lyrebird. However, it is the superb lyrebird which gives the family its name. Its spectacular tail of fanned feathers, when spread out in display, looks like a lyre (a musical instrument of ancient Greece).

The male superb lyrebird is 80-100 cm long, including his 55-cm-long tail. He is dark brown on the upper part of his body and lighter brown below, with red-brown markings on his throat. His tail feathers are dark brown above and silver-grey below.

Females of the species are smaller than the males, with similar colouring but without the lyre-shaped tail. The females' tail feathers are broadly webbed with reddish markings. Young male superb lyrebirds do not grow their lyre tails until they are three or four years old. Until this time, they usually group together and are known as 'plain-tails'.

The Albert's lyrebird is similar in appearance to the superb lyrebird, but is smaller and darker, with a rich chestnut colour. The male does not have the outer lyre-shaped tail feathers of the superb lyrebird.

Another lucky capture at ISO 1000 and very low shutter speed, thank you Canon for IS
inked, uleko has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Lindsay
Great work capturing this guy...especially at ISO1000. Nice detail in the tail feathers and background complements the bird. Where did you manage to get the shot?
Cheers
Sue

Hello Lindsay,
Very special photo of this uncommon bird. Where and how did you manage this photo?
Good sharpness and colours.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Lindsay

You've done well here, the males are notoriously hard to shoot at this time of year. Amazingly low noise for ISO 1000 and great result from the 500. With that combination, you should be able shoot in dark Aussie forests with a problem.

Chris

very nice bird, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 216] (642)
  • [2008-05-12 23:45]

hi Lindsay,
great shot of this master of mimicry!! i'd love to find one in the wild. incredible birds. great find and capture in those conditions. nice composition, good pov, good detail. well done! tfs
Gethin

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2458 W: 168 N: 7420] (23432)
  • [2008-05-13 5:50]

Hello Lindsay,
How fantastic to be able to photograph this splendid bird that we had hoped to see in Australia. This is an excellent capture too showing its beautiful tail feathers. FIne details and wonderful colours in this great composition.
Many thanks, Ulla

Lindsay, it's such a flighty bird - every time I am approaching photo distance - they take off! nice capture of a difficult subject - well done! mark

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