The laughing bird, also known as the laughing kookaburra, is a bird native to Australia that is known for its distinct call that sounds like loud laughter. The laughing kookaburra is the largest species in the kingfisher family, with a total length of up to 42 cm (17 in). Its plumage is brown and white with a pale beak and dark brown eye stripes. The laughing kookaburra was given its common name due to its unique vocalization that resembles a human laugh.
Quick Facts About the Laughing Kookaburra
Here are some quick facts about the laughing kookaburra:
- Scientific name: Dacelo novaeguineae
- Other common names: laughing jackass, bushman’s clock
- Range: Eastern and southern Australia including Tasmania
- Habitat: Woodlands and forests near bodies of water
- Diet: Insects, small reptiles, mammals, and other birds
- Length: Up to 42 cm (17 in)
- Weight: Up to 454 g (16 oz)
- Wingspan: Up to 51 cm (20 in)
- Coloring: Brown back with white underbelly and pale beak
- Distinctive features: Raucous laughing call, large head and bill
Description and Characteristics
The laughing kookaburra is the largest member of the kingfisher family. It has a robust body with a very large head and bill. The length ranges from 37 to 42 cm (14.5 to 16.5 in) with a wingspan of up to 51 cm (20 in). Weight can range from 250 to 454 g (8.8 to 16 oz).
The plumage is mostly brown and white. The back and wings are reddish brown with some faint blue spots. The underparts are off-white with some faint barring on the lower belly. The tail is more rufous in color with dark brown barring. The beak is very long, broad and pale white to bone-colored. There is a distinctive dark brown eye stripe that extends from the eyes across the back of the head.
Male and female laughing kookaburras are similar in plumage coloration. Females tend to be slightly larger but otherwise very hard to distinguish. Juveniles have similar patterning but with a duller beak and eye stripes.
Laughing kookaburras have a stocky build with relatively short and rounded wings. The large bill and head are its most distinctive features. The feet are zygodactyl with two toes pointing forward and two backward to allow them to better perch on tree branches. Their feathers are short, soft and fluffy.
Geographic Range and Habitat
The laughing kookaburra is endemic to eastern and southern Australia including Tasmania. Its range extends from the Cape York Peninsula in the north down to Victoria and South Australia in the south. It is found in both wet and dry savanna and forest areas as well as some urban parks and gardens.
This species occupies woodland and forest habitats, particularly those associated with bodies of water. They prefer areas with older trees that provide suitable nesting cavities. Laughing kookaburras can adapt well to urbanization and will take advantage of parks, gardens, golf courses and other green spaces.
Laughing Call and Vocalizations
The laughing kookaburra is best known for its iconic vocalization that resembles human laughter. The laughing call is commonly made by family groups in the early morning and evening. It serves to establish territory boundaries and strengthen family bonds.
The typical call starts with a few shorter notes that lead up to an extended trilling laugh. The duration is roughly 2-4 seconds. Other sounds include lower chuckling notes and a rapid call that sounds like a monkey. Pairs may engage in a duet of alternating calls.
This laughing call can carry for up to 1.5 km and is often delivered repeatedly. It has been described as sounding like a variety of things from echoing human laughter, a jungle call, a mad scientist’s cackle or even a dog’s bark.
Diet and Hunting
The laughing kookaburra is carnivorous and consumes a wide variety of prey. Insects and small reptiles make up the bulk of their diet. They also frequently eat rodents, frogs, fish, crabs and other birds.
Hunting usually occurs from a suitable perch where the kookaburra will scan for prey. Short flights are used to attack prey on the ground or in trees. Prey is then beaten against a branch or rock to kill and consume it. Smaller prey is simply swallowed whole.
Kookaburras may also steal food from other birds. Their versatile diet allows them to thrive in varied habitats from forests to urban areas.
Common Prey Items
- Insects – dragonflies, beetles, moths
- Reptiles – skinks, geckos, small snakes
- Amphibians – frogs, toads, newts
- Fish
- Rodents – mice, rats
- Birds – songbird nestlings and eggs
- Crabs
Kookaburras hunt mostly in the morning and evening but can be seen hunting throughout the day. Large prey like snakes and lizards may be cached and consumed over several meals. These kingfishers require 150-200g of food per day.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The laughing kookaburra breeding season lasts from August to January. They form monogamous pairs that mate for life over multiple years.
Kookaburras nest in tree holes or hollow branches. Both the male and female excavate the nest cavity which is lined with leaves, grass and feathers. Typical clutch size is 2-3 eggs that are incubated for 24-30 days. The male will help feed the female while she incubates.
Hatchlings are altricial, meaning they are helpless and blind at birth. Both parents work together to feed the chicks which fledge around 30-40 days after hatching. Once fledged, the young will remain with the parents learning to hunt for another 6-10 weeks.
Laughing kookaburras reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age. Average lifespan in the wild is around 12 years but they may live up to 20 years in captivity.
Key Features of Reproduction:
- August to January breeding season
- Monogamous pairs
- Nest in tree hollows
- Clutch of 2-3 eggs
- Incubation is 24-30 days
- Chicks fledge around 1 month old
- Reach maturity at 2 years old
- Lifespan around 12 years
Conservation Status
The laughing kookaburra has a large range and population size. According to the IUCN Red List, it is classified as a species of Least Concern.
Total population numbers are unknown but estimated to exceed one million mature individuals. Population trends appear to be stable over the long-term. These birds have proven resilient in the face of habitat loss by adapting well to urbanization and artificial environments.
Major threats include habitat loss, competition for nest cavities, and predation. Continued conservation of woodland habitats and nest sites will be important for the long-term preservation of laughing kookaburra populations.
Interesting Facts
Here are a few more interesting facts about the charismatic laughing kookaburra:
- The genus name “Dacelo” is Latin for “joker” or “clown”
- They are part of the same family (Alcedinidae) as small kingfishers
- Groups engage in “laughing choruses” at dawn and dusk
- Their broad beaks are adapted for catching snakes and lizards
- Known to eat venomous snakes and are resistant to some snake venom
- They mate for life and use the same nest cavity each year
- Groups establish year-round territories
- Will readily take food from humans in parks
- Have a special feather structure allowing silent flight
Significance to Humans
The laughing call of the kookaburra is an iconic Australian bush sound that is often used in media portrayals of Australia. It has appeared in film, music, television and literature for decades as a symbol of the Australian outback.
Kookaburras have adapted well to human modification of habitats. They thrive in orchards, parks, gardens, golf courses and other suburban environments. This has endeared them to many Australians.
Aboriginal groups incorporated the laughing call into oral traditions. The kookaburra sometimes represented trickster spirits playing pranks. The bird appears in various Aboriginal legends.
Laughing kookaburras are kept as pets by some, although their protected status limits trapping and keeping them. Captive birds can readily accept food from human hands. Individual kookaburras may become infamous neighborhood characters.
Where to See the Laughing Kookaburra
The laughing kookaburra can be found across much of eastern and southern Australia. Here are some of the best places to catch a glimpse of this iconic bird and hear its trademark call:
- Sydney – Royal Botanic Garden, Centennial Park, Lane Cove National Park
- Melbourne – Dandenong Ranges, Sherbrooke Forest, Yarra Bend Park
- Canberra – Namadgi National Park, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
- Brisbane – Mount Coot-tha Forest, Daisy Hill Forest Park
- Adelaide – Cleland Conservation Park, Belair National Park
- Perth – John Forrest National Park, Herdsman Lake
- Tasmania – Cradle Mountain, Freycinet National Park
Any forest, woodland or park habitat near water can potentially host kookaburras. Dawn or dusk are the best times to observe them.
Conclusion
With its iconic “laughing” vocalization and charismatic nature, the laughing kookaburra has become a symbol of classic Australian bush life. This kingfisher species has adapted well to human changes to the landscape and inhabits habitats from forests to suburbs. The laughing call of the kookaburra will likely continue to resonate as a cherished sound of the Australian wild for generations to come.