Chook the lyrebird does construction

A couple of years ago on a BBC wildlife series by David Attenborough, there was footage of a lyrebird (in the wild) mimicking sounds of other birds.



At Adelaide Zoo, a lyrebird called Chook has actually picked up construction noise.



According to Adelaide Zoo

Our male, “Chook”, was born in 1979 and has been at Adelaide Zoo since 1991.

During winter lyrebirds sing and dance as part of an elaborate courtship display. About 80% of Chook’s song consists of expert mimicry. Here is list of some of the sounds Chook makes.

Bird sounds
Laughing Kookaburra
Regent honeyeater
Yellow tailed black cockatoo
Flock of rainbow lorikeets
Eastern whipbird
King Parrot
Marpie Lark
Australian Magpie
Noisy Miner
Red Wattlebird
Blackbird
Pied Currawong
Bush Stone-Curlew

Other sounds
Electric drill
Handsaw
“Hello Chook”
Chainsaw
Water drops
Truck reversing
Post-mix drink being poured
2 way radio chatter

Awesome, worth visiting Adelaide Zoo to see Chook, and the two new pandas (after they arrive).

I wonder if lyrebirds can recite complete Bach or Mozart pieces.