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Laughing Kookaburra
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Laughing Kookaburra
Description
The Laughing Kookaburra is instantly recognisable in both plumage and voice. This large member of the kingfisher family measures 40 - 45 cm in length. It is generally off-white below, faintly barred with dark brown, and brown on the back and wings. The tail is more rufous, broadly barred with black. There is a conspicuous dark brown eye-stripe through the face.
The chuckling voice that gives this species its English name is a common and familiar sound throughout the bird's range. The loud 'koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-kaa-kaa-kaa' is often sung in a chorus with other individuals. The Laughing Kookaburra also has a shorter 'koooaa', which is normally given when accompanied by other members of its family group.
Identification may only be confused where the Laughing Kookaburra's range overlaps that of the Blue-winged Kookaburra, D. leachii, in eastern Queensland. The call of the Blue-winged Kookaburra is coarser than that of the Laughing Kookaburra, and ends somewhat abruptly. The Blue-winged Kookaburra lacks the brown eye-stripe, has a blue tail and a large amount of blue in the wing, and has a pale eye.
Distribution and Habitat
The Laughing Kookaburra occurs throughout eastern Australia. It has also been introduced to Tasmania and the extreme south-west of Western Australia, as well as New Zealand. It inhabits most areas where there are suitable trees. In the central north and north-west of Australia it is replaced by the Blue-winged Kookaburra. The two overlap in range throughout Queensland, although the Blue-winged Kookaburra tends to occupy the coastal areas.
Food and feeding
Laughing Kookaburras feed mostly on insects, worms and crustaceans, although small snakes, mammals, frogs and birds may also be eaten. Prey is seized by pouncing from a suitable perch. Small prey is eaten whole, but larger prey is killed by bashing it against the ground or tree branch. Laughing Kookaburras often become quite tame around humans and will readily accept scraps of meat. This 'pre-processed' food is still beaten against a perch before swallowing.
Breeding
Laughing Kookaburras breed from August to January. The birds are believed to pair for life. The nest is a bare chamber in a naturally occurring tree hollow or in a burrow excavated in an arboreal (tree-dwelling) termite mound. Both sexes share the incubation duties and both care for the young. Other Laughing Kookaburras, usualy offspring of the previous 1-2 years, act as 'helpers' during the breeding season. Every bird in the group shares all parenting duties. |
marhowie, PDP, carper, TAZ, gerhardt, Callie, CoolDan, Luc has marked this note useful
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Good Morning Bill! It seems your into the birds & I'm into the bugs! Love this macro & on this one we see "eye to eye"!! This a fantastic shot with focus just where it counts to achieve the desired effect. I give this one a big "Koooaa"!!! Excellent notes - Great job - again!
- PDP
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(11755) - [2004-10-04 6:36]
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Gorgeous, simply stunning. The POV and composition are really great. Excellent work.
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- carper
(8208)
- [2004-10-04 6:53]
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Great head Bill,
Very sharp and what a details of colours, very good note as usual, very good job
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- kb10
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 16 W: 0 N: 30]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif)
(155) - [2004-10-04 7:42]
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comme toujours très jolie prise.
Cet oiseau semble un peu joueur, voir malicieux, on dirait qu'il nous regarde avec un petit sourire.
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- Verti
(99)
- [2004-10-04 8:04]
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This is a terrific portrait, with great depth of field. Well done.
By the way, what's he doing in America?
Beautiful picture, it shows the laughing capabilities. The DOF is very good, and detail too. Thanks.
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- TAZ
(10918)
- [2004-10-04 12:12]
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Il a une bonne tête cet oiseau ;-) Jolie portrait bien réussi. Et quelle note !
Well done !
Very good portrait Bill.
Great sharpness and good colours.
Goot note.
Very good job
Well done.
Extremely nice close up and pose of this bird. You did really well Bill, I like the pose the most. Great detailed photo and note. TFS.
Il semble bien coquin celui-ci. Magnifique prise Bill, bien cadrée et bonne note. Nice shot.
Superbe photo bien cadrée. Merci de l'échange. Rudy.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 69 W: 0 N: 205]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 55 W: 0 N: 15]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-s.gif)
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