The Laughing Kookaburra

At the World Bird Sanctuary we have one of the four known species of Kookaburra, a Laughing Kookaburra named Chadder. 

Chadder enjoying his summer quarters on the upper trail near the hospital

These birds are very appropriately named since their call sounds similar to hysterical human laughter.  The first time I ever heard the call of a Kookaburra was in Disney’s Jungle Book animated movie.  They never showed what was making the call and I of course was too young to know it was a Kookaburra.  I thought it was some type of monkey call!  I had never heard that call anywhere else and did not know what it truly was until I heard the sanctuary’s Kookaburra for the first time.  I remember a huge grin spreading across my face.  I thought it was just so cool! 

Native to the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia, the Laughing Kookaburra is the largest member of the Kingfisher family.  It is a carnivore.  Its beak can reach 4 inches long and is used to catch a variety of prey, such as small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.  Like some of North America’s native owls, i.e. the Great Horned Owl, Kookaburras use a "sit and wait" technique of hunting, inspecting their surroundings from a perch, then swooping down to snatch up prey as it comes along.  Small prey is killed directly by the crushing action of the beak.  Larger prey, including snakes of up to 1 meter in length, may be smacked repeatedly against a branch, or dropped from a considerable height until killed.  Kookaburras have been introduced to Western Australia and New Zealand, where they have angered farmers by preying on their fowl.

Like many birds, Laughing Kookaburras are monogamous.  They nest in tree holes, where females lay one to five eggs.  The chicks are taken care of by a family group made up of parents and elder siblings, just like Harris’ Hawks, which can also be seen on display at the sanctuary.  A family of Kookaburras will often call all at the same time to denote their territory.

Chadder enjoying his indoor heated winter accommodations

Right now Chadder has been moved indoors to our behind the scenes location where he will spend the cold winter months.  When spring arrives, Chadder will be back outside on the display line just past the wildlife hospital.  When passing by, be sure to shout out “hahahaha!” and he may laugh right back at you!  

To see some videos of Foster,  one of our other Kookaburras, click here.

Submitted by Sara Oliver, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist