Kookaburra

Kookaburra
Laughing kookaburra in Tasmania, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Subfamily: Halcyoninae
Genus: Dacelo
Leach, 1815
Species

Kookaburras are terrestrial tree kingfishers of the genus Dacelo native to Australia and New Guinea, which grow to between 28–42 cm (11–17 in) in length. The name is a loanword from Wiradjuri guuguubarra, onomatopoeic of its call. The loud distinctive call of the Laughing Kookaburra is widely used as a stock sound effect in situations that involve a jungle setting.

They are found in habitats ranging from humid forest to arid savanna, as well as in suburban areas with tall trees or near running water. Even though they belong to the larger group known as "kingfishers", kookaburras are not closely associated with water.[1]

Taxonomy

The genus Dacelo was introduced by the English zoologist William Elford Leach in 1815.[2][3] The name Dacelo is an anagram of Alcedo, the Latin word for a kingfisher.[4]

Classification and species

Four species of kookaburra can be found in Australia, New Guinea, and the Aru Islands.

A male blue-winged kookaburra
Spangled kookaburra

Kookaburras are sexually dimorphic. This is noticeable in the blue-winged and the rufous-bellied, where males have blue tails and females have reddish-brown tails.

Behaviour

Kookaburras are almost exclusively carnivorous, eating mice, snakes, insects, small reptiles, and the young of other birds; they have also been known to take goldfish from garden ponds. In zoos they are usually fed food for birds of prey.

The most social birds will accept handouts and will take meat from barbecues. It is generally not advised to feed kookaburras ground beef or pet food as these do not include enough calcium and roughage.[6]

They are territorial, except for the rufous-bellied, which often live with their young from the previous season.[7] They often sing as a chorus to mark their territory.

Three newly hatched kookaburra chicks

Conservation

All kookaburra species are listed as Least Concern. Australian law protects native birds including kookaburras.

In culture

The distinctive sound of the Laughing Kookaburra's call (which sounds like echoing human laughter) is widely used in filmmaking and television productions, as well as certain Disney theme park attractions, regardless of African, Asian and South American jungle settings. Kookaburras have also appeared in several video games including (Lineage II, Battletoads, and World of Warcraft) and at least in one short story (Barry Wood's Nowhere to Go).

Olly the Kookaburra was one of the three mascots chosen for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The other mascots were Millie the Echidna and Syd the Platypus.

In William Arden's 1969 book, The Mystery of the Laughing Shadow, (one of 'The Three Investigators' series for young readers), the laughing kookaburra is integral to the plot.

The children's television series Splatalot! includes an Australian character called "Kookaburra" (or "Kook"), whose costume includes decorative wings that recall the bird's plumage, and who is noted for his distinctive high-pitched laugh.

It is said that the Kookaburra's call can summon the gods of laughter. But, if you mistreat a Kookaburra, it will upset the gods of laughter, and you will forever be condemned to an eternity of the inability to laugh.

The call of a kookaburra (nicknamed "Jacko") was for many years used as the morning opening theme by ABC radio stations, and for Radio Australia's overseas broadcasts.[8] This was the basis for a book for children:

Music

Postage stamps

B.C.O.F. kookaburra stamp first issued in 1946.

Coins

An Australian coin known as the Silver Kookaburra minted annually since 1990.[10]

Yacht

The Australian 12 metre yacht Kookaburra III lost the America's Cup in 1987.[11]

Hockey

The Australian Men's Hockey team is named after the kookaburra. They are currently (as of 2014) world champions in field hockey.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Simpson, Ken (1989). Field guide to the birds of Australia: a book of identification. Christopher Helm. p. 317.
  2. ↑ Peters, James Lee, ed. (1945). Check-list of Birds of the World. Volume 5. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 189.
  3. ↑ Leach, William Elford (1815). The Zoological Miscellany; being descriptions of new, or interesting Animals. Volume 2. London: B. McMillan for E. Nodder & Son. p. 125.
  4. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. ↑ "Kookaburra, Dacelo sp. Factsheet (Bibliography)". San Diego Zoo. Retrieved 23 Jan 2017.
  6. ↑ Giles, Jennie (1994). "Caring for Wild Birds in Captivity Series (Adelaide and Environs): Caring for Kookaburras" (PDF). Bird Care & Conservation Society South Australia Inc. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. ↑ Legge, Sarah (2004). Kookaburra: King of the Bush. Collingwood, Vic: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-09063-7. OCLC 223994691.
  8. ↑ Jerry Berg. "Jacko, the Broadcasting Kookaburra". Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Bird Stamps of Australia
  10. ↑ "Australian Kookaburra". Silver Bullion World. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  11. ↑ Maritime Topics On Stamps, America Cup, Sailing
  12. ↑ Hockey Australia: Kookaburras

Further reading

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