they eat small insects which they scratch up from the ground. they are a shy bird which will run or fly away if disturbed. during the breeding season in winter, from may to august, the male bird performs displays of song and dance to attract the females. the songs are copied from other birds and forest sounds. the songs can last up to four hours, with some individual songs lasting up to one hour. during his dance, the male bird raises his tail feathers up and over his body. the feathers form a lyre shape which is why they were given the name "lyrebird".