Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

Animal Class: Birds

Length: 18 inches

Weight: 1 pound

Life Span: 15-20 years

Diet: Wild: insects, amphibians, reptiles, crabs, rodents, baby birds.

Habitat: Laughing kookaburras live in Eastern Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They require dense forests for feeding and nesting.

Description: The laughing kookaburra has a stout, compact body and short legs. Their plumage is mainly brown or gray with a white underside and dark bands on the tail and around the eyes. They have a large black to tan beak, a large square head, and white neck band. The laughing kookaburra is the largest member of the kingfisher family.

Their well-known call, a mix of “laughing” and “chuckling” sounds, is used to communicate territory with other kookaburras, in courtship, and to alert for danger.

Our Animals: Forrest and Stella