Laughing Kookaburra

Laughing Kookaburra
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Halcyonidae
Genus:	Dacelo
Species:	D. novaeguineae
Binomial name
Dacelo novaeguineae (Hermann, 1783)

The Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae, is a carnivorous bird in the Kingfisher family. Native to eastern Australia, it has been introduced to southwestern Australia. Male and female adults are similar in plumage, which is predominantly brown and white. A common and familiar bird, this species of kookaburra is well known for its laughing call.

Taxonomy

The Laughing Kookaburra was first described by French naturalist Johann Hermann in 1783, its specific epithet novaeguineae refers to New Guinea. For many years it was known as Dacelo gigas. Previously known as the Laughing Jackass^[1][2] and Giant Kingfisher^[2] it is now best known by its aboriginal name.

Distribution

The Laughing Kookaburra is found throughout eastern Australia, and has been introduced into Tasmania, Flinders Island, Kangaroo Island, and the south-west corner of Western Australia. Furthermore, some were also introduced into New Zealand between 1866 and 1880, but only those liberated on Kawau Island by Sir George Grey survived. Descendants of these individuals are found there today.

Description

Large bill and head detail

The Laughing Kookaburra is a stocky bird of about 45 cm (18 in) in length, with a large head, a prominent brown eye, and a very large bill. The sexes are very similar, although the female averages larger and has less blue to the rump than the male. They have a white or cream-colored body and head with a dark brown stripe through each eye and more faintly over the top of the head. The wings and back are brown with sky blue spots on the shoulders. The tail is rusty reddish-orange with dark brown bars and white tips on the feathers. The heavy bill is black on top and bone colored on the bottom.

Call

The "Laughing Kookaburra" is known by its name for its "laugh" which it uses to establish territory amongst family groups. It can be heard at any time of day but most frequently shortly after dawn and after sunset to dusk.

One bird starts with a low, hiccupping chuckle, then throws its head back in raucous laughter: often several others join in. If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter. Hearing kookaburras in full voice is one of the more extraordinary experiences of the Australian bush, something even locals cannot ignore; some visitors, unless forewarned, may find their call startling.^[3]

	Laughing dacelo novaeguineae Laughing kookaburra recorded near Pemberton, Australia
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Behaviour

Kookaburras occupy woodland territories (including forests) in loose family groups, and their laughter serves the same purpose as a great many other bird calls—to demarcate territorial borders. Most species of Kookaburra tend to live in family units, with offspring helping the parents hunt and care for the next generation of offspring.

Feeding

Kookaburras with lizard prey

Kookaburras hunt much as other kingfishers (or indeed Australasian robins) do: by perching on a convenient branch or wire and waiting patiently for prey to pass by. Common prey include mice and similar-sized small mammals, large insects, lizards, small birds and nestlings, and most famously, snakes. Small prey are preferred, but kookaburras sometimes take large creatures, including venomous snakes much longer than their bodies.

Breeding

Juvenile in a garden in Swanbourne, Western Australia

During mating season, the Laughing Kookaburra indulges in behaviour similar to that of a Wattle Bird. The female adopts a begging posture and vocalises like a young bird. The male then offers her his current catch accompanied with an "oo oo oo" sound. They start breeding around October/November. If the first clutch fails, they will continue breeding into the summer months.

They generally lay three eggs at about 2 day intervals. If the food supply is not adequate the third egg will be smaller and the third chick will also be smaller and at a disadvantage to its larger siblings. Chicks have a hook on the upper mandible, which disappears by the time of fledging. If the food supply to the chicks is not adequate the chicks will quarrel and the hook can be used as a weapon and the smallest chick can be killed by its larger siblings. If food is plentiful the parent birds spend more time brooding the chicks and so the chicks are not able to fight.

Interaction with humans

Pet bird

The Laughing Kookaburra are a common sight in suburban gardens and urban settings, even in quite built up areas, and are so accustomed to humans that they will quite often eat out of their hands. It is quite common for kookaburras to snatch food out of people's hands without warning, by swooping in from a distance. People often feed them pieces of raw meat and gristle. It is not recommended to feed them however as it interferes with their basic dietary requirements and can lead to disease.

Samsonvale, SE Queensland, Australia

Various views and plumages

	At the Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens	Chewing on sausage - Mosman backgarden, Sydney Australia.	Kookaburra taking sausage to young chick, Sydney Australia.
			Wet Kookaburra
Kookaburra perched on a sign		Kookaburra is catching a worm? (Sydney)

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dacelo novaeguineae

Wikispecies has information related to: Dacelo novaeguineae

References

External links

• Downloadable Audio File of the sounds of the Laughing Kookaburra