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Laughing Kookaburra

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra.

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra. At 45cm the laughing kookaburra is one of the world's largest kingfishers. Native to south and eastern Australia, they have now been introduced to Western Australia and parts of New Zealand. Although they do catch fish, they hunt mainly on land where they eat reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates. The cacophony of loud hooting laughs from which they get their Aboriginal name, is often produced by several birds in chorus. The cackling call is one of the few exotic bird sounds that is recognised around the world: a captive kookaburra named Jacko became a radio celebrity in Australia through his ability to break into that laughing call on demand. By the time of his death in 1939 he was one of the best known birds in the world.

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Available now

2 minutes

Last on

Wed 3 Aug 2022 05:58

Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

Webpage image courtesy of Andrew Walmsley / naturepl.com.

Β© Andrew Walmsley / naturepl.com

Broadcasts

  • Tue 30 Dec 2014 05:58
  • Mon 30 Nov 2015 05:58
  • Sun 6 Dec 2015 08:58
  • Mon 20 Aug 2018 05:58
  • Tue 8 Sep 2020 05:58
  • Wed 3 Aug 2022 05:58

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