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Laughing Kookaburra

(Dacelo novaeguineae)
Alternative names: "Brown Kingfisher", "Great Kingfisher", "Giant Kingfisher", "Laughing Jackass", "Bushman's Clock", "Settler's Clock"
Aboriginal name: "gugurrgaagaa" [gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay]
Size: 40-47 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Laughing Kookaburras are large kingfishers endemic to Australia. They are found naturally along the entire east of the Australian continent. Race "minor" is found on the Cape York peninsula, while race "novaeguineae" populates the rest of eastern QLD and NSW plus all of VIC and the south-eastern corner of SA. In addition to these, populations have been introduced to the south-western corner of WA, Kangaroo Island off Adelaide, SA, and Tasmania. In good years the inland populations disperse further towards the centre, in the south-east for example then living all over the Murray-Darling Basin, including the Paroo River catchment.

Laughing Kookaburras are usually found in open forest and woodland. They adapt well to the presence of humans and are also found on farms and in gardens and urban parks.

Sightings

Laughing Kookaburras are the bosses of the bush. Noone, not even birds much larger than they, will meddle with them. When a Kookaburra comes onto the scene, even Australian Ravens and Whistling Kites call it a day.

Laughing Kookaburras were frequent visitors to our place 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW. However, 20 km east of Narrabri our place is visited less frequently. A family stays in the neighbourhood, a short distance away.

Laughing Kookaburras are also found along the Australian east coast; seen by us in various locations ranging from Sydney to Urunga and Dorrigo, NSW.

Photos

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here.

Here a close-up portrait of a "sausage thief" in Gosford, kindly contributed by Y. English

Frontal view of a Laughing Kookaburra

Near-frontal view of a bird following the observer

Lateral view of a Laughing Kookaburra

Here a bird seen from behind

Laughing Kookaburra preening

Laughing Kookaburra displaying its crest

Laughing Kookaburra hunting off a perch

THAT's a bill!

The same bird as above

This bird is seen issuing the rolling sound before the big cackle starts

The one on the left told a joke, then both started laughing... these two made a racket that could be heard half a kilometre away

Family of Laughing Kookaburras in the top of a dead tree

Laughing Kookaburra twin share

This immature Laughing Kookaburra was honing its hunting skills when observed by us

Here a bit of a rarity: Two slightly different views of an albino Laughing Kookaburra seen 20 km south-east of Narrabri, NSW; locals from the area where the bird was seen report that there appears to be a clan which regularly produces albinos. Another albino was later seen by us in the township of Narrabri

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Dec Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: 23 - 25 days Fledging age: 32 - 37 days

Nest

Type: Tree hollow Material: N/A Height above ground: 3 - 10 m

Instead of tree hollows Laughing Kookaburras sometimes also use arboreal termite nests for nesting. They do not line their nests.

View of the entrance to a Laughing Kookaburra's nest hollow (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Here the owner of the nest (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

In this tree a pair of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos makes use of the presence of Laughing Kookaburras; the large opening is used by the kookaburras, the smaller one in the upper left corner by the cockatoos

Most Laughing Kookaburras choose nesting hollows with very wide openings; however, this one is barely wide enough for a bird to enter and the hollow inside must be wider than the opening

Eggs

Size: 45 x 36 mm Colour: White Shape: Rounded

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Family clan

We once noticed how a Laughing Kookaburra called its mates for help when a Whistling Kite came onto the scene. Together the 10-12 Kookaburras hustled the big raptor out of their territory.

Food

Laughing Kookaburras are versatile hunters on land. They will take anything from snakes and lizards to mice, large insects and chicks of other bird species. They are feared by other bird species in the bush.