Laughing Kookaburra

1. Dark brown eye and bold brown cheek patch

2. Minimal blue colouration, mostly on rump and wingtips

3. Famous “laughing” call, especially at dawn and dusk

Laughing Kookaburras are cooperative breeders, living in family groups where offspring from previous years help raise new chicks. They are formidable hunters, pouncing from perches to catch insects, worms, lizards, small snakes, and even small mammals or birds. Prey is often subdued by being struck against a branch or the ground before being swallowed. These birds are sedentary, defending the same territory year-round, and are most vocal at dawn and dusk when their chorus establishes territory boundaries. Breeding occurs mainly from August to January. Nests are made in tree hollows or excavated termite mounds, with both parents and helpers sharing incubation and chick-rearing duties. Clutches usually contain two to three eggs, and incubation lasts about 24–26 days. Chicks fledge after 32–4 days and may remain with the family group for several years.

Laughing Kookaburras are widespread throughout eastern and southern Australia, including Tasmania and parts of Western Australia and New Zealand where they have been introduced. They thrive in a range of habitats, from eucalypt forests and woodlands to suburban parks and gardens, provided there are suitable trees for nesting. They are often seen perched on branches, fences, or powerlines, watching for prey below.