The Laughing Kookaburra

There are few things as quintessentially Australian as the Laughing Kookaburra. Their song greets us at sunrise and lets us know that the end of day is near. They patrol our land for insects, mice, small snakes and lizards as they are carnivores. Territorial in nature, the family sticks together and their call is used to establish territory among family groups.

The Laughing Kookaburra is the largest kingfisher. It is a stout, stocky bird with a large head, prominent brown eyes, and a very large bill. The female is typically a little larger and has less blue on her rump than the male, but otherwise, the sexes look very similar.

Monogamous, they partner for life. A breeding pair can have up to five fully grown non-breeding offspring from previous years helping defend their territory and raise the young.