These are not sound effects - it's all one bird!

A master of mimicry, Apollo the Superb Lyrebird at Healesville Sanctuary is strutting his stuff and performing a symphony of impressive sound effects as part of a winter courtship ritual delighting visitors. The cooler months set the stage for breeding season where the males shake their tailfeathers and copy the sounds around them in hopes of attracting a mate. Apollo’s vocal repertoire includes other birds from the Sanctuary such as kookaburras, magpies, Yellow-tailed black cockatoos, Superb parrots, Crimson Rosellas, Satin Bowerbirds and Eastern whipbirds to name a few. Even more impressive is his ability to mimic human-related sounds – from car alarms to sirens to camera shutters chainsaws, golf carts, ringing phones and even people blowing kisses. Zoos Victoria is a zoo-based conservation organisation, fighting for a future rich in wildlife. Learn more about our work at zoo.org.au