ANIMAL:Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
Type of Animal:
Kingfisher
Habitat:
Woodlands, forests, edges of plains, urban parks, urban/suburban gardens, wetlands, partly cleared areas, farmland w/ trees along roads & fences, parkland, orchards, partially timbered farmland, suburbs, towns, wooded farmland, cleared farmland, areas near rivers
Location(s):
E Australia. Introduced to Tasmania, far SW Western Australia, & New Zealand.
Appearance:
Largest of all kingfishers, stout stocky bird, large head, brown eyes, long robust black bill (bone colored on bottom), males have bluer rumps, white/cream body/head, brown back/wings w/ sky blue spots on shoulders, tail rusty reddish-orange w/ dark brown bars & white tips on feathers
Food/Diet:
Insects, insect larvae, worms, reptiles (including venomous snakes), amphibians, small mammals, fish, birds, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, snails, crustaceans, people food if meaty
Status in Wild:
Stable
Conservation:
Breeding in zoos and wildlife centers
Lifestyle:
Family groups of monogamous pair w/ 1-4 sets of offspring (usually 1-2 birds each). Older siblings act as helpers to younger siblings. Older helpers more often male but can also be female.
Additional Info:Called:
Male: Cock
Female: Hen
Young: Chick
Group: Riot
Weight:
Male: 10.8 oz
Female: 12.4 oz
Young: 5 oz
Gestation:
3-4 weeksLife Span:
12-15 years
Height:
Male: 1.3 ft
Female: 1.5 ft
Body Length:
Male: 1.3 ft
Female: 1.5 ft
Tail Length:
0.5 ft, same for both sexes
Main predators of adults are raptors, foxes, cats, dogs, quolls, pythons, & monitor lizards. Many snakes eat chicks. Possums eat eggs.
Play important role in controlling populations of smaller animals.
Sexually mature at a year old, though many stay until age 3.
Hunt by staying still on branch/perch waiting for it to pass by. Once it passes by, it’ll swoop down & land next to it taking it into bill. Then will bang prey against branch & swallow whole-head first.
Typically breed from August-January, laying around 3 eggs. Oftentimes, smallest chick killed by 2 larger chicks.
Fights between neighbors can be vicious & sometimes fatal.
Chicks hatch blind & featherless.
Fun Fact(s):
A kookaburra was a mascot for 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
1 Aboriginal legend says laugh signal for sky people to light sun each morning.
Once called laughing jackass, because laugh has donkey-like sound.
They’re quite bold & will steal meat right in front of people as well as readily accept handouts. They’ve even been seen stealing food from snakes (one of their favorite foods).
Famous laugh actually territorial call-often whole group does it in unison.
Often called “bushman’s alarm clock” due to loud call, typically done at dawn/dusk.
Famous for “Kookaburra” nursery rhyme written in 1932. It’s true kookaburras often found on gum trees.
In many jungle movies, sounds often recordings of this bird since they sound like monkeys.
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It took us years of being city locksmith to provide you with the winning formula that no other native locksmith could match.
Years of working towards within the shop and in the sphere have honed our skills to the point
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be purchased separately, however they’ll provide detailed
directions for a wide range of circumstances. Discounts
– Some locksmiths provide particular deals for
move-ins, army, seniors, new prospects, key extraction,
or multiple lock installation.
Whether you drop by for a fast duplicate key service, or you want
us to come back out to where you might be for an emergency unlock or lock replacement visit,
we assure all the service we do and your complete satisfaction with our work.
It took us years of being city locksmith to provide you with the winning formula that no other native locksmith could match.
Years of working towards within the shop and in the sphere have honed our skills to the point
that we’re able to unlock most locks in below
5 minutes. Our estimated emergency response time is 15
minutes. Each subject innovates and upgrades, and the other must
innovate and upgrade in response. These books have to
be purchased separately, however they’ll provide detailed
directions for a wide range of circumstances. Discounts
– Some locksmiths provide particular deals for
move-ins, army, seniors, new prospects, key extraction,
or multiple lock installation.