The Laughing Kookaburra is endemic to the forests and woodlands of eastern Australia.
Because of its loud calls and large size it is one of Australia’s most familiar birds.
Early in the morning, as the local kookaburra gang rouses us with their own particular salute to the sun, they are telling all other kookaburras within earshot that they have a territory and that they are ready to defend it. (Source: Environmental Protection Agency)
Differences from Blue-winged Kookaburra include: brownish crown, dark streak through eye and dark eye.
It is the world’s largest kingfisher.
The territorial call can be described as raucous ‘laughter’.
They spend most of the day on high branches or posts overlooking rainforest clearings or disturbed agricultural areas where they swoop on small snakes, lizards or frogs.
Young kookaburras continue to live at home for about four years. During this time their parents put them to good use; young laughing kookaburras perform about a third of incubation and brooding duties for the next generation and supply the nestlings with over half of their food.
A family of seven Kookaburras regularly visits Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge and entertains the guests with a chorus of laughter before they come down onto the lodge railings to accept meat scraps.
