Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

With its unforgettable cackling call that sounds like raucous human laughter, this large Australian kingfisher has earned its place as one of the most recognised birds in the outback.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Laughing Kookaburra is a large, stocky bird with a distinctive oversized head and strong, dagger-like bill. Its upperparts are predominantly brown with blue-tinged wings, while the underparts are white with subtle brown barring.

Females are usually larger and have less blue on the rump than males. Otherwise, both sexes look similar, with a dark brown eye stripe and blue-tinged tail feathers. Juveniles resemble adults but have a paler bill and less defined markings.

Size

Length

41cm to 47cm

Wingspan

61cm to 66cm

Weight

190g to 465g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Blue Black

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Laughing Kookaburra can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Laughing Kookaburra can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Laughing Kookaburra can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Laughing Kookaburras are native to eastern and southern Australia, inhabiting a variety of woodland habitats, including eucalyptus forests, open woodlands, and savanna woodlands. They have also been introduced to parts of Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.

These adaptable birds are commonly found in suburban areas, parks, and farmlands across their range, thriving in human-modified landscapes as well as natural habitats.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 900 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Laughing Kookaburra. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons