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Laughing KookaburraAlternative names: "Brown Kingfisher", "Great Kingfisher", "Giant Kingfisher", "Laughing Jackass", "Bushman's Clock", "Settler's Clock" Aboriginal name: "gugurrgaagaa" [gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay] Size: 40-47 cm Weight: 340 g (average) |
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Similar species |
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SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
Note that kookaburras are large kingfishers. For classification information
see Laughing Kookaburra
at Wikipedia 
.
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
Laughing Kookaburras were frequent visitors to our place 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW in the years 2003-2006.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
Race "novaeguineae"
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, NSW,
kindly contributed by Y. English
[Gosford, NSW, October 2008]
Frontal view of a Laughing Kookaburra
[Sydney, NSW, April 2006]
Near-frontal view of a bird following the observer
[Moree, NSW, November 2011]
Lateral view of a Laughing Kookaburra
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, May 2006]
Dorsal view of a Laughing Kookaburra
[20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, March 2006]
Laughing Kookaburra preening
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2008]
Laughing Kookaburra displaying its crest
Laughing Kookaburra hunting off a perch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]
THAT's a bill!
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]
The same Laughing Kookaburra as above
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]
This Laughing Kookaburra is seen issuing the rolling sound before the big
cackle starts
[Moree, NSW, November 2011]
The Laughing Kookaburra on the left told a joke, then both started laughing...
these two made a racket that could be heard more than half a kilometre away
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]
Family of Laughing Kookaburras in the top of a dead tree
[Bullawa Creek SCA,
NSW, March 2009]
Laughing Kookaburra twin share
Laughing Kookaburra honing its hunting skills
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2010]
Here a bit of a rarity: Two slightly different views of an albino
Laughing Kookaburra; 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
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2006]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Aug - Dec | Eggs: 2 - 4 | Incubation period: 23 - 25 days | Fledging age: 32 - 37 days |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "malunna" = Nest [Aboriginal] |
| 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
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, October 2011]
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
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2011]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "nooluk" "pateena" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal] |
| Size: 45 x 36 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Rounded |
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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.
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Food, Diet |
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.
