Scientific Classification
- Common Name
- laughing kookaburra, kookaburra
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Genus Species
- Dacelo (an anagram of alcedo – a kingfisher ) novaeguineae (from New Guinea)
Fast Facts
- Description
- The laughing kookaburra is the largest of the kingfishers. It has a large bill that has a black upper mandible (top beak), and a tan lower mandible. The laughing kookaburra also has a white belly, a whitish head, brown wings, a brown back and dark brown eye-stripes.
- Size
- Up to 45 cm (18 in.) in length
- Weight
- 196 to 465 g (6.9 to 16.4 oz)
- Diet
- Carnivorous; eats insects, amphibians, small reptiles, and crabs
- Incubation
- Approximately 20 to 22 days
- Clutch Size
- 2 to 3 eggs
- Sexual Maturity
- Approximately 12 months
- Life Span
- Averages 15 years
- Range
- Eastern Australia and Tasmania
- Habitat
- Primarily forests
- Population
- Undetermined
- Status
- IUCN: Least Concern
CITES: Not listed
USFWS: Not listed
Fun Facts
The laughing kookaburra got its common name from the loud territorial sound that it makes. The calls are often mistaken for many different animals, such as donkeys or monkeys.
In many of the old Tarzan movies, the jungle sounds were often recordings of the laughing kookaburra call, which lives nowhere near Africa.
Laughing kookaburras are the largest member of the kingfisher family. Members of the kingfisher family are found all over the world and are some of the only bird species known to be able to hover.
Laughing kookaburras have a complex social structure. A pair may remain in a semi-monogamous relationship with helpers to assist with the care of the young. These helpers may be young from a previous mating who are learning parental care while helping their parents, or they could also be an unrelated pair who is waiting for a shot at the territory.
Ecology and Conservation
Laughing kookaburras are fairly adaptable in their habitat but they do require forest areas for finding food and nesting. They benefit from living within Australia, a country that has some of the strictest animal control laws in the world. The habitats, however, are not as strongly protected as the animals.
As small carnivores, kookaburras play an integral role in the ecosystem by controlling small animal populations.
Bibliography
Gotch, A.F. Birds: Their Latin Names Explained. Poole: Blandford Press, 1981.
Macdonald, J.D. Birds of Australia. Sydney: A.H. & A.W. Reed PTY Ltd., 1973.
Perrins, C. M. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1990.
amonline.net.au/factsheets/laughing_kookaburra.htm
honoluluzoo.org/kookaburra.htm
BirdLife International 2016. Dacelo novaeguineae . The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22683189A92977835. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683189A92977835.en. Downloaded on 09 March 2020.
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