LC
Albert's Lyrebird Menura alberti



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Least Concern
2016 Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)
2012 Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)
2009 Near Threatened B1a+b(iii,v)
2008 Vulnerable
2007 Vulnerable
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Australia
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 12,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 1700-8300, 8100 mature individuals medium estimated 2020
Population trend stable poor suspected -
Generation length 10.6 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 3-10 - - -

Population justification: The number of Albert's Lyrebirds (1,700-8,300 mature individuals) is calculated as the product of the territory size (9 ha) applied to three independent measures of the area of occupancy (in Stewart et al. 2021), assuming each 2x2 km square within its range (using data from eBird 2020 and BirdLife Australia 2020) represents 1 km2 of suitable habitat. The population is possibly larger as many areas have not been surveyed; consequently, the best estimate (8,100 mature individuals) is placed at the higher end of the population size range. Small isolated subpopulations at Blackwall Range (possibly ten birds; Bower 1997) and Mt Tamborine (23 pairs; Nielsen 2010) continue to persist (BirdLife Australia 2020, eBird 2021) although isolated for well over 50 years.

Trend justification: Earlier sustained declines due to forestry in what is now Whian Whian Conservation Area have ceased and the population is thought to be stable. Some birds died in major fires in 2019–2020 but, based on initial assumptions about mortality at different severity classes (severity low: 10%; medium: 30%; high: 80%; very high: 100%) and maps of fire severity, the total killed was an estimated 6% of the total population with estimates ranging from 4%–8% depending on the fire-related mortality assumptions adopted (G. Ehmke, S.T. Garnett unpublished). In the absence of additional threats, the population is not thought to be undergoing a continuing decline.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Australia extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Australia Nightcap Range
Australia Scenic Rim
Australia Tamborine Mountain

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Altitude 300 - 2200 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Agro-industry plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Minority (<50%) Negligible declines No/Negligible Impact: 2
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Climate change & severe weather Droughts Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation
Climate change & severe weather Temperature extremes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Lantana camara Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Vulpes vulpes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Unknown Negligible declines Unknown
Stresses
Species mortality
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Negligible declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 3
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Albert's Lyrebird Menura alberti. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/alberts-lyrebird-menura-alberti on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.