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Please note: On Thursday, April 25, Stone Zoo volunteers, employees and local emergency responders will take part in a routine animal escape exercise. While the exercise is occurring, guests have the opportunity to participate in the evacuation portion, and may be asked to move to certain areas within the Zoo for a brief period of time (not to exceed 10 minutes). These exercises are an important part of our preparedness training, and we appreciate your participation and understanding. If you have any questions about what to expect, please don't hesitate to contact us at 617-989-2000 or info@zoonewengland.org.

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Kookaburra (Laughing Kookaburra)

Dacelo novaeguineae

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About the Kookaburra (Laughing Kookaburra)

conservation status: least concern

Geographic Range:

range map

Class: Aves  
Order: Coraciiformes 
Family: Halcyonidae  
Genus: Dacelo  
Species: novaeguineae

The kookaburra is a squat bird with a large head, short neck and medium-sized tail. Its bill is long, broad and somewhat flattened. The kookaburra’s coloring is predominantly white and brown; the male has a patch of blue-green feathers on the base of its tail. The bird is better known as the laughing kookaburra for its famous "kook-kook-kook-ka-ka-ka" call, which rises and falls in volume. When hearing this call, families within the kookaburra’s range will respond in chorus to the call.

Committed to Conservation

Zoo New England participates in the wattled crane Species Survival Plan. By sharing research and knowledge, participating institutions work together to establish guidelines that best ensure the health of captive populations, and with success, the survival of endangered species.

Kookaburra facts

Appearance:

The kookaburra is a thick-looking bird with a large head, short neck, and medium-sized tail, with a long, broad-shaped bill that is somewhat flattened. The kookaburra's head is mostly white with brown coloring on top and a brown stripe near the eye. Its chest is cream white colored, with blue-speckled, brown wings. Male kookaburras have a green patch of feathers in the center of the base of their tail.

Size:

  • Length: 15.4-18.5 inches
  • Weight: 196-465 grams

Diet:

In the wild, kookaburras eat large insects, snakes, lizards, amphibians, small mammals, small birds, and occasionally fish. Prey is caught by pouncing from a perched position. Small pray is eaten whole while larger prey is killed by a swift bash against the bird’s bill or smashed into a tree branch, or onto the ground or rock.

Reproduction:

Kookaburra breeding season is in October. During courtship, the female uses a begging posture like a young bird, while the male offers her his catch of the day along with an “Oo-Oo-Oo” sound. Both the male and female create a nesting area in or around a tree. The female remains in the nest while the male feeds the female about six weeks before she lays her eggs. If their first brood fails, they try for another.

Females lay two to four eggs. Incubation lasts for 25-29 days, and hatchlings are born blind. Hatchlings' eyes don’t open until they are three weeks old. Kookaburra parents feed their young a diet consisting of mainly insects as they remain in their burrow for a full month. They are then coaxed from the nest and able to fly. Parents continue to feed the chicks for several weeks after they emerge from their nest. The kookaburra chicks and parents remain together as a family until the next breeding season.

Behavior:

Kookaburras are territorial, and they will use calls to warn others of danger. Varying calls convey different meanings (stress, happiness, danger, etc.).

Median Life Expectancy:

Up to 11 years

Habitat/Range:

  • Habitat: Kookaburras inhabit woodlands, forests, orchards, parklands, timbered farmland, even suburbs and towns.
  • Range: The kookaburra is native to eastern Australia, but has been introduced to other parts of the continent and off shore islands such as Tasmania, New Zealand, and south-west of Western Australia.

Fun Facts:

  • Kookaburras are the largest member of the Kingfisher family.
  • They are called “Laughing Kookaburras” from the famous "kook-kook-kook-ka-ka-ka" call which rises and falls in volume. During this call, families within the Kookaburra’s range will chime in chorus to the call.