Laughing Kookaburra

Overview

The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is the largest kingfisher species by body mass, native primarily to eastern Australia. It is a sedentary, monogamous bird that lives in family groups and is widely recognised for its distinctive territorial call.

Identification

• A large, stout bird measuring 41–47 cm, with a whitish head marked by a dark brown eye-stripe.
• Upperparts are brown with mottled light-blue patches on the wing coverts; underparts are cream-white.
• Features a long, robust bill that is black on top and bone-coloured on the bottom.
• Emits a loud, raucous laughing call, often delivered in chorus by several birds at dawn and dusk.

Habitat

Native to eastern mainland Australia from the Cape York Peninsula to Cape Otway, it also occupies introduced populations in New Zealand, Tasmania, and Western Australia. It inhabits dry eucalypt forest, woodland, open sclerophyll habitats, and urban parks, requiring tree holes for nesting.

Diet

This species forages by perching on branches or wires and pouncing on prey found on the ground. Its diet consists of a wide variety of small animals, including mice, lizards, frogs, invertebrates, and notably venomous snakes.

Did you know?

The species was originally named with reference to New Guinea because early explorers mistakenly believed a specimen originated from there, despite the bird not occurring on that island. Its signature laugh is actually a learned behaviour taught by breeding pairs to their fledglings over a two-week period.