Overview

Laughing Kookaburra: Large, noisy kingfisher, dark brown upperparts, brown-washed white underparts. Head and neck are white, and dark brown eye-stripe is conspicuous. Bill is large and two toned with black upper and pale brown lower mandibles. Tail is rufous with broad, black bars. Gray legs, feet.

Laughing Kookaburra: Native to Australia, found throughout eastern Australia, and has been introduced into the southwest corner of Western Australia, Tasmania, Flinders Island, and Kangaroo Island. Introduced into New Zealand between 1866 and 1880. Inhabits woodlands, open forests, and suburban areas.

Voice Text

"koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-kaa-kaa-kaa"

• Laughing Kookaburra are a common sight in suburban gardens and urban settings, even in quite built up areas. They are so accustomed to humans that they will quite often eat out of their hands.
• It is named for its laughing call, which it uses to greet its mate after periods of absences. It can be heard at any time of day.
• Some of these birds were introduced into New Zealand between 1866 and 1880, but only those liberated on Kawau Island by Sir George Grey survived. Descendants are still found there today.
• A group of kingfishers are collectively known as a "concentration" and a "relm" of kingfishers.

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

ORDER

The taxonomic order CORACIIFORMES (pronounced ko-rah-kee-ih-FOR-meez) is composed of six families of colorful birds such as the motmots, rollers, todies, and kingfishers.

FAMILY TAXONOMY

The Alcedinidae (pronounced al-she-DIN-uh-dee) is composed of ninety-five species of kingfishers in eighteen genera found on most continents and many Pacific Islands.

NORTH AMERICA

Six species of kingfishers in two genera occur in North America. These include the widespread Belted Kingfisher, the diminutive Green Kingfisher, and the large billed Ringed Kingfisher.

KNOWN FOR

Like most other members of its family, the Belted Kingfisher is known for its fishing behavior and loud rattling call that is an auditory component of lakes and rivers throughout North America.

PHYSICAL

Although kingfishers in North America can be as small as a thrush or larger than a pigeon, they are all similarly shaped with medium length tails, medium length pointed wings, and a large, crested head. The bills of kingfishers are heavy and look oversized, while their legs are short with small toes, the outer two joined almost to the end (a trait shared by other members of the Coraciiformes).

COLORATION

While many kingfishers in other parts of the world are brilliantly colored in glittering blues, orange and red, the North American species have duller plumages of slate gray, rufous, white, and jade green.

GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT

The widespread Belted Kingfisher is found throughout North America except for the tundra of the far north. Other species have mostly tropical distributions, with just two others occurring in the United States in southern Texas. All three species in the United States utilize aquatic habitats such as lakes, rivers, streams, and estuaries.

MIGRATION

The Belted Kingfisher undertakes both short and long distance migrations to the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

HABITS

Outside of the breeding season kingfishers are solitary birds that forage alone. They have a very distinctive manner of foraging for fish by diving head first into the water. While the smaller Green Kingfisher often does this from a perch, the Belted and Ringed Kingfishers typically hover above the water to watch for prey. Like other Coraciiformes, kingfishers nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams, rivers, and lakes.

CONSERVATION

In North America, kingfishers are fairly common, non-threatened bird species.

INTERESTING FACTS

Kingfishers are birds quite adapted to their aquatic habitats, their eyes having specially adapted lenses for focusing both in and out of the water. They also won’t hesitate to dive into the water to escape a predator.

Author

Artist

Yury Lisyak