Kookaburra: The 'laughing' kingfisher that rarely fishes

The kookaburra is the largest kingfisher and the most "laughing" of birds — its call sounds like a hearty laugh, which is how it got its name. It lives in Australia and is the bush's natural alarm clock. Let's meet it.

Its body

The kookaburra measures about 39 to 47 centimetres, a real "big one" in the kingfisher family. It has a stout bill, short rounded wings and a long, slightly rusty tail. Although it is called a kingfisher, its feathers are not as glossy as other kingfishers': it is mainly brown-grey with blue and white.

What it eats

Interestingly, although it belongs to the kingfisher family, the kookaburra rarely eats fish. It more often perches quietly, watching, then pounces to grab snakes, lizards and large insects — even tackling venomous snakes. Its strike is quick and precise, making it a deft little hunter of the bush.

Its family life

The kookaburra is best known for its call: at dawn and dusk the whole family "laughs" together, one after another as if in chorus — in fact it is a claim to territory. They nest in tree hollows, and family members help raise the chicks: older siblings assist the parents in feeding the new arrivals. This "whole family pitching in" is unusual among birds.

A note for grown-ups

You could listen to a recording of a kookaburra with a child, then copy its "ha-ha". Explaining that an animal's call is not just "singing" but may mean "this is my home" is a lovely insight. Getting to know animals by ear is a fine nature lesson too.