Laughing Kookaburra Bird Facts (Dacelo novaeguineae)

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.

The Laughing Kookaburra can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra can be found in Urban habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra can be found in Farmland habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Laughing Kookaburra is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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.

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

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Australia New Zealand

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

Excellent manoeuvrability and precision in flight, particularly demonstrated by their ability to swoop accurately to catch prey from a stationary position. Their stocky build allows for quick, controlled movements whilst hunting.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Quite powerful for their size, with a robust build and strong dagger-like bill capable of subduing substantial prey including snakes and lizards. Their ability to beat larger prey against branches demonstrates significant upper body strength.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Highly adaptable species thriving across various habitats from natural woodlands to urban environments. Successfully colonised introduced territories and readily adjusts to human-modified landscapes, showing remarkable behavioural flexibility.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Shows notable territorial behaviour and hunting aggression, particularly when defending their territory or hunting prey. Their predatory nature and willingness to tackle dangerous prey like snakes indicates significant aggressive tendencies.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Whilst capable of sustained hunting activities and territorial defence, they primarily employ a 'sit-and-wait' hunting strategy rather than prolonged pursuit. Their relatively sedentary lifestyle suggests moderate rather than exceptional endurance.

Laughing Kookaburras are carnivorous, feeding primarily on snakes, lizards, small mammals, and large insects.

They use their strong beak to catch and kill prey, often beating larger items against branches before swallowing them whole. They also occasionally eat fish and nestling birds.

Laughing Kookaburras are known for their territorial behaviour, often perching prominently on tree branches or power lines. They hunt by sitting motionless, then swooping down to catch prey.

These birds are social, living in family groups and engaging in cooperative breeding.

The Laughing Kookaburra's call is one of the most distinctive bird sounds in Australia.

Their famous 'laugh' is a loud, raucous 'kook-kook-kook-ka-ka-ka' that often starts low and rises to a high-pitched, maniacal cackle. This call is typically used to mark territory and can often be heard at dawn and dusk.

Laughing Kookaburras form monogamous pairs and breed cooperatively, with offspring from previous years helping to raise new chicks. The breeding season typically occurs from August to January in Australia.

Nests are built in tree hollows, termite mounds, or occasionally in artificial nest boxes. The female lays 2-4 white eggs, which both parents and helpers incubate for about 24-26 days.

Chicks fledge after about 32-40 days but may remain with their parents for several months, learning essential hunting skills before becoming independent.

The Laughing Kookaburra typically lives for 10 to 15 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 26.8 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While the Laughing Kookaburra is listed as Least Concern, habitat loss and fragmentation pose potential threats. In some areas, they face competition from introduced species.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable woodland habitats and monitoring population trends.

Listen for their distinctive laughing call, especially at dawn and dusk
Look for them perched on high vantage points in open woodlands
Observe their hunting behaviour near open grassy areas
In Australia, check parks and suburban areas where they're often found

Adult Laughing Kookaburras have few natural predators, but their eggs and chicks may fall prey to goannas, snakes, and introduced species such as cats and foxes.

Laughing Kookaburras can live for over 20 years in captivity.
They are the largest member of the kingfisher family.
Their 'laughing' call has been used in many Hollywood films to represent jungle sounds, even in movies set in Africa or the Americas where kookaburras don't naturally occur.

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