The only places the world that the Kookaburra are found are Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Aru Islands. It is a large member of the kingfisher family which measures around 40 - 45 cm in length. Most Kookaburras are territorial and live in groups in areas where there are suitable trees, they are best known for their unmistakable call, which is like a loud, echoing 'koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-kaa-kaa-kaa kaa kaa' which is often sung in a chorus with other Kookaburras in order to mark their territory.

Kookaburras are carnivorous and will eat snakes, lizards, crustaceans, insects, frogs, small rodents and marsupials. Their smaller prey is eaten whole, but their larger prey is killed by bashing it against the ground or tree branch.

Kookaburras breed from around August to January and are believed to pair for life. The nest is an enclosed area in a naturally occurring tree hollow and the male and female share the incubation and care for the young. Other Kookaburras in the group will also help with the parenting duties when the chicks have hatched.

Please register (for free) to become a member of our site, then click on the video map icon to the right of any of our Australian animal pages and enjoy some of the more in depth Australian wildlife and conservation videos in which our caring conservationists show us lots more about the Kookaburra.