kookaburra, (species Dacelo novaeguineae), eastern Australian bird of the kingfisher family (Alcedinidae), whose call sounds like fiendish laughter. This gray-brown, woodland-dwelling bird reaches a length of 43 cm (17 inches), with an 8- to 10-cm (3.2- to 4-inch) beak. In its native habitat it eats invertebrates and small vertebrates, including venomous snakes. In western Australia and New Zealand, where it has been introduced, the kookaburra has been known to attack chickens and ducklings. Defending their territory year-round, a monogamous pair of these birds lays two clutches of two to four white eggs in its nest in a tree hole. The young often remain with the parents and help raise the next year’s brood. 

Also sometimes called the “bushman’s clock,” the kookaburra is heard very early in the morning and just after sunset. The related blue-winged kookaburra (D. leachii), which does not “laugh,” is found across northern Australia. 

Kookaburra’s Habitat: Where the Laughter Resides

Kookaburras are remarkably adaptable birds, thriving in a variety of environments across eastern and southeastern Australia. Their preferred habitats are generally areas with sufficient tree cover for nesting and perching, combined with open ground for hunting. This includes:

• Eucalyptus Forests and Woodlands: The quintessential Australian bush, providing ample tall trees.

• Open Bushland: Areas with scattered trees and shrubs.

• Riverine Forests: Along waterways, where prey might be abundant.

• Urban and Suburban Parks and Gardens: Kookaburras have successfully adapted to human-modified landscapes, often becoming familiar residents in backyards and public green spaces, especially where large trees are present.

• Golf Courses and Farmland: These modified environments can also provide suitable hunting grounds and perching sites.