Moustached Kingfisher vs Laughing Kookaburra
Actenoides bougainvillei compared with Dacelo novaeguineae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Moustached Kingfisher | Laughing Kookaburra |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Actenoides bougainvillei | Dacelo novaeguineae |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 43.0 cm (16.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 25.8 cm (10.2 in) | 65.0 cm (25.6 in) |
| Weight | 187.5 g (6.61 oz) | 340.0 g (11.99 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Insects, lizards, snakes, small mammals, birds, and crustaceans. A sit-and-wait predator that swoops from a … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Laughing Kookaburra
Eucalyptus forests, woodland, and suburban gardens throughout eastern and southwestern Australia.
Song & Call Comparison
Moustached Kingfisher
Laughing Kookaburra
The eponymous call: a loud, rollicking laughter 'koo-koo-koo-ka-ka-ka-ka', rising then falling. Family groups call together creating a cacophony. Iconic sound of the Australian bush.
Geographic Range & Migration
Moustached Kingfisher
Laughing Kookaburra
Eastern Australia from Cape York to South Australia and Tasmania. Introduced to southwestern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Moustached Kingfisher
Laughing Kookaburra
How to Tell Them Apart
Moustached Kingfisher
Laughing Kookaburra
Brown upperparts with blue patches on the wings and rump. Creamy white head and underparts with a dark eye stripe. Dark brown tail with rufous barring.
Very large, heavy, dark upper mandible and pale lower mandible
About These Birds
Moustached Kingfisher
The Moustached Kingfisher (<em>Actenoides bougainvillei</em>) is a member of the family Alcedinidae, the kingfishers, and is found in forested habitats. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. Like other members of its genus, it is believed to favor dense lowland and foothill forest, where it likely perches quietly while searching for prey. The nesting habits of this species involve excavating burrows, a strategy typical among terrestrial kingfishers in the Actenoides group. Specific details …
Laughing Kookaburra
The laughing kookaburra is the largest kingfisher in the world, famous for its raucous laughing call that has become an iconic sound of the Australian bush. Despite being a kingfisher, it rarely eats fish, preferring terrestrial prey. Family groups perform chorus calls at dawn and dusk to mark their territory.