Lincoln Park Zoo

Common name: Laughing kookaburra
Latin Name: Dacelo novaeguineae

Class: Birds
Order:    Coraciiformes

Description
The laughing kookaburra has a white chest and head, with brown wings, a brown back and brown stripes around the eyes.

Range
Eastern Australia

Status
Commmon

Habitat
Woodlands and forests

Niche
The kookaburra feeds on snakes, lizards, insects and rodents, a diet that made it popular with Australian settlers. The bird uses its large beak to grasp prey, which it kills by striking against its perch

Life History
Laughing kookaburras live in territorial groups of three or more birds. The dominant male and female breed, but nesting pairs receive help from other members of the group in rearing their chicks. Mature offspring feed and protect their siblings before moving on to nests of their own.

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