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Information by Kurt from Year 5P at Rochedale State School.
INTRODUCTION
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There are two types of Kookaburras. Firstly, the Laughing Kookaburra and secondly the Blue-Winged
Kookaburra. When the Kookaburra laughs, its telling the other birds to keep away, because it is his/her territory.
Kookaburras are the world's largest kingfishers but very seldom catch fish. They are also known as Laughing Jackasses.
According to aboriginal legend, when the Kookaburras laugh, they are calling to the sky people to light the great fire that
warms and illuminates the earth by day. |
DESCRIPTION
| The different colours of the Kookaburra are blue, brown and white. It also has a dark brown patch
behind its eye with a little bit of silver blue on its wing.
They grow up to forty-three centimetres long with a six to eight centimetre beak. They lay 2 - 4 eggs and their eggs are
white. The kookaburra can live up to 25 years.
Most often, a family group of Kookaburras will be heard calling together to advertise their territory. A family group will
include two adults, who mate for life, and young birds which may stay around for several years to assist in the raising new young. |
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HABITAT & FEEDING HABITS
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Before European settlement Kookaburras were found only in mainland eastern Australia, but they have
now been introduced to Tasmania and Western Australia. They live in bushland, forest and wooded watercourses. They nest in trees or termite mounds.
Kookaburras eat mice, snakes, lizards, birds, insects and frogs. The Kookaburra has weak feet, but it has a very
strong neck so it can kill its prey by either hitting it against a tree or dropping from a large height. The chicks feed on worms and small insects gathered by
their parents. |
CONCLUSION
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| The Kookaburra is mostly known by its laugh. When they breed they usually return to the same place.
In the garden, Kookaburras are usually seen perched high in trees or on tall poles, watching for prey. Click on the
kookaburra on the left for a larger picture. |
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