some 55 mya, barely into the Early Eocene , early perching birds were recognizably distinct. [8] Male Superb Lyrebird ( Menura novaehollandiae ). This very primitive songbird shows strong sexual dimorphism, with a peculiarly apomorphic display plumage in males. A quite similar group, the Zygodactylidae (named for their zygodactylous approach to perching)