Laughing Kookaburra, Southeast Victoria Australia

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The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is a large and robust terrestrial tree kingfisher native to eastern mainland Australia, but it has been introduced to parts of New Zealand, Tasmania, and Western Australia. Although they belong to the larger group known as "kingfishers", kookaburras are not closely associated with water.

The laughing kookaburra's territorial call is a very loud and distinctive laugh that can continue for a ridiculously long time. It is often delivered by several birds at the same time. The laughing kookaburra is sedentary and occupies the same territory throughout the year. It is monogamous, retaining the same partner for life. A breeding pair can be accompanied by up to five fully grown non-breeding offspring from previous years that help the parents defend their territory and raise their young.

The laughing kookaburras diet includes lizards, insects, worms, snakes, mice and it is known to take goldfish out of garden ponds. I have also witnessed one stealing a woman's hot dog just as she lifted it to begin eating. The bird waited on a rooftop and flew directly past her face, plucking it from her hands as she opened her mouth to take the first bite. The woman let out a scream in surprise and the kookaburra had the last laugh.

Laughing kookaburras typically wait and watch for prey, or hot dogs, while perched, like the kookaburra in this photograph. When their prey is seen they fly down and grab it. The dirt on the lower beak of this kookaburra is a remnant of its last hunt a few minutes earlier.