Kookaburra

The largest bird in the kingfisher family, the kookaburra is famous for its loud, boisterous call. It sounds a lot like a hearty human laugh, koo-koo-hoo-hoo-hoo-haa-haa-haa-haa. The kookaburra calls to let others know to stay out of its territory. Living in family groups, a crazy chorus of kookaburra calls carries across the woodlands as they awake in the morning to begin foraging and as they go to roost at night.

• A thick, strong beak helps the kookaburra catch and crush insects and other small prey.
• The kookaburra bashes larger prey such as snakes and fish against the ground or a branch.