Why does the kookaburra laugh?
The laughing kookaburra's famous laugh is a territorial call. Family groups laugh together, especially at dawn and dusk, to tell neighbouring kookaburras that the area is occupied.
The call starts with low chuckles and builds into loud, cackling laughter. Often several birds in a family join in at once, creating a chorus that can be heard over a long distance.
Kookaburras live in family groups, with young birds from previous years staying to help raise chicks and defend territory.
About the kookaburra
The laughing kookaburra is the largest kingfisher in the world. It does not need water to hunt, eating insects, lizards, snakes, mice and small birds instead of fish.
It is native to eastern Australia and was introduced to Western Australia and Tasmania.
Kookaburras sit still on a branch, watching the ground, then swoop down to grab prey. They may bash larger prey such as snakes against a branch before swallowing it. Many people in suburbs know kookaburras as cheeky visitors that snatch sausages from barbecues, but feeding them is discouraged because human food is not healthy for them. A kookaburra named Olly was a mascot of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Did You Know?
The kookaburra's laugh is often used in films to suggest a jungle setting, even when the scene is not in Australia.