This footage was filmed and produced 28 March 2024.

In a mesmerizing display of courtship, the Albert’s Lyrebird of Australia has unveiled its intricate mating ritual, captivating scientists with its synchronized dance and song. Researchers, led by Fiona Backhouse, a postdoctoral researcher with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, have meticulously studied and quantitatively described this captivating behavior among lyrebirds in the wild.

The courtship ritual begins with each male lyrebird selecting a stage of entangled vines, resembling a natural theater, as the setting for its performance. Gripping the vines with their feet, the males embark on a choreographed dance, swaying and bouncing in harmony with the beat of their striking song. As they move, the entire tangled mass of plant growth also sways, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

The lyrebirds combine their movements with two distinct types of songs: the "loud gronking" and the "rhythmic gronking." Analysis reveals that the footwork of the lyrebirds is precisely synchronized with the rhythmic gronking song, showcasing the remarkable coordination and precision of their courtship display.

Furthermore, the lyrebird's tail is flipped dramatically over its head during the performance, adding to the spectacle of the mating ritual. Remote cameras placed among five populations of Albert’s Lyrebirds captured this behavior during breeding seasons from May 2018 to August 2019.

What surprised researchers most was the consistency of the vine-shaking behavior across all individuals and populations of lyrebirds. This species-wide trait suggests a deep-rooted significance in their courtship ritual.