After the Dance

Moulted feathers of the male lyrebird Photographer - John Broomfield Source - Museum Victoria

The decorative tail feathers of the male Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae which are displayed dramatically during courtship, are moulted each spring.

These feathers were located on a thoroughly scratched-over site with plenty of rotted timber.

Lyrebirds can move huge quantities of leaf litter with their strong scratching feet, encouraging the decomposition process and the recycling of forest nutrients.