any one of two or three species of australian birds of the genus menura. the male is remarkable for having the sixteen tail feathers very long and, when spread, arranged in the form of a lyre. the common lyre bird (menura superba), inhabiting new south wales, is about the size of a grouse. its general color is brown, with rufous color on the throat, wings, tail coverts and tail. called also lyre pheasant and lyre-tail.