Laughing Kookaburra
Laughing Kookaburra Facts
| Size | 15-18.5 inch (40-47 cm) |
| Speed | Unknown |
| Weight | Up to 17 oz (490 g) |
| Lifespan | 20-25 years |
| Food | Fish, insects, frogs, snails |
| Predators | Owls, goshawks |
| Habitat | Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea |
| Order | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Kingfishers |
| UnterFamily | Alcedinidae |
| Scientific name | Dacelo novaeguineae |
| Characteristics | Its call sounds like a laugh |
The laughing kookaburra is the largest and heaviest member of the kingfisher family.
Aboriginal Legend
Australia’s native population has a legend that the laughing kookaburra was chosen by the gods to wake people and animals at the beginning of the day.
The Laughing Kookaburra’s Sense of Humor
The laughing kookaburra is also known as the laughing jackass. This refers to its call, which sounds like a loud laugh. You can hear this unmistakable laugh in lots of Hollywood films set in the jungles of Africa or South America. But the bird is actually from Australia.
The Laughing Kookaburra is a Sociable Bird
What makes these birds special is their sociable manner. Normally, kingfishers are lone wolves and only meet up during mating season. The laughing kookaburra and the blue-winged kookaburra live in small family groups, with their mothers, fathers, uncles and aunts. Close relatives even look after the young, with the males taking on the traditionally female role of providing care.
- Find out more:
- Blue-Winged Kookaburra Facts
- Hornbill Facts
- Kingfisher Facts
