Laughing Kookaburra
Dacelo novaeguineae
Aves › Coraciiformes › Alcedinidae › Dacelo
Conservation status: least_concern
This large kingfisher is a predator that waits on a branch before pouncing on prey on the ground. Its diet includes lizards, insects, worms, snakes, mice and it is known to take goldfish out of garden ponds.
How To Identify
This robust bird is medium-sized, characterized by rich brown feathers contrasted with prominent buff or pale breast markings. Its head often features distinct markings on the crown and nape, giving it a surprisingly neat appearance for its large calls.
Habitat
It inhabits eucalyptus forests, woodlands, and open forests across eastern Australia, from the tropical rainforests of Queensland to temperate regions of Victoria and South Australia.
Behaviour
This carnivorous bird hunts snakes, lizards, and small mammals from a perch, striking with powerful strikes and often bashing prey against branches before swallowing.
Native Range
The Laughing Kookaburra is native to Australia and New Zealand.
Did You Know?
The Laughing Kookaburra's distinctive cackling call sounds remarkably like human laughter and can be heard up to 1 km away, earning it the nickname 'the bushman's clock' for its loud dawn and dusk choruses.
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