Appearance
The laughing kookaburra has white plumage with light brown bars on the underbody. It has a distinctive dark brown eye stripe, and a white head with a crown capped by darker brown feathers. The back, wings and tail are predominantly dark brown, contrasted by striking light blue feathers along the wing edges. It has long tail feathers barred with brown and creamy white. Laughing kookaburras grow up to 45cm in length, and have a strong, heavy bill that can reach up to 10cm.
Distribution and habitat
The laughing kookaburra is native to eastern Australia and has been introduced to Tasmania and southwest Australia. It is widespread across Victoria, and while it prefers eucalyptus forests and open woodlands, it can be found living anywhere where there are trees suitable for nesting, and open ground for hunting.
Diet
The laughing kookaburra is a carnivore, and its diet is made up of insects, worms, small lizards, snakes, frogs, crustaceans and sometimes even other birds. The kookaburra waits on tree branches or powerlines, then swoop down to ambush its prey. They swallow smaller prey whole, but larger animals like snakes or lizards are first struck against a hard surface such as a tree branch to kill and soften them before eating.
Behaviour
The kookaburras famous laughter is actually not a laugh! Rather, it is a territorial call to deter other birds. This call is commonly performed together by members of the same family group. Kookaburras usually live in family groups made up of a mating pair and several ‘helpers’ (normally young from past seasons) who help with feeding and protection.
Breeding season
The kookaburra breeding season is from August to January. A female lays up to three eggs each season. Kookaburras pair for life, and both parents and helpers work together to incubate the eggs and raise the young. For up to 40 days after leaving the nest, the family group continues to feed the chicks.
General fun facts
- The laughing kookaburra is the largest species of kingfisher.
- The kookaburras’ feathers help it to camouflage into its environment, making it harder for it to be seen by prey.
- Kookaburras can live for up to 20 years.