


Blue-winged Kookaburra
Dacelo leachii


Dacelo leachii
The Blue-winged Kookaburra is a large, robust kingfisher native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Easily recognised by its pale head, blue wings, and blue rump, this bird is slightly smaller than the Laughing Kookaburra and is often seen perched in open woodlands, parks, and along watercourses. Its pale eye and heavy bill make it stand out among Australian birds, and it is commonly spotted resting on branches or powerlines, scanning for prey`.`
1. Pale eye and off-white, streaked head with vivid blue wings and rump
2. Males have blue tails; females have rufous, black-barred tails
3. Often seen perched in open areas, scanning for prey
These kookaburras live in cooperative family groups, sometimes up to 12 individuals, with older offspring helping to raise new chicks. They are skilled hunters, preying on insects, reptiles, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally snakes, which they subdue by striking against a hard surface. Their diet shifts with the seasons, with more insects and amphibians taken during the wet season. Blue-winged Kookaburras nest in tree hollows or termite mounds, typically laying three to four eggs in late spring with their breeding season between September-January or August-February depending on region. Chicks are altricial and aggressive, with older siblings sometimes outcompeting younger ones for food. Juveniles remain with the family for several weeks after fledging, learning to hunt under parental guidance.
Blue-winged Kookaburras are widespread across northern Australia, from the vicinity of Brisbane in Queensland, across the Top End, and down the Western Australian coast as far as Shark Bay. They inhabit open savanna woodlands, Melaleuca swamps, farmlands, and even urban parks with suitable tree cover. They are most active and vocal at dawn and dusk, often calling from high perches such as branches, posts, or wires.
40 cm
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