American Robin vs Laughing Kookaburra
Turdus migratorius compared with Dacelo novaeguineae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Robin | Laughing Kookaburra |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Turdus migratorius | Dacelo novaeguineae |
| Order | Passeriformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Turdidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) | 43.0 cm (16.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 36.0 cm (14.2 in) | 65.0 cm (25.6 in) |
| Weight | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) | 340.0 g (11.99 oz) |
| Diet | Earthworms, insects, and fruit. Famously hunts earthworms on lawns by running, stopping, and tilting its … | Insects, lizards, snakes, small mammals, birds, and crustaceans. A sit-and-wait predator that swoops from a … |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
American Robin
Lawns, parks, gardens, farmland, and forest edges. One of the most familiar birds in suburban North America.
Laughing Kookaburra
Eucalyptus forests, woodland, and suburban gardens throughout eastern and southwestern Australia.
Song & Call Comparison
American Robin
A clear, caroling song of 2-3 note phrases: 'cheerily, cheer-up, cheerio'. Sings from dawn perches. Sharp 'tut-tut-tut' alarm call and thin 'seeee' flight note.
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
American Robin
North America from Alaska and Canada to Mexico. Northern populations migrate south in winter; southern populations are largely resident.
Laughing Kookaburra
Eastern Australia from Cape York to South Australia and Tasmania. Introduced to southwestern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
American Robin
Laughing Kookaburra
How to Tell Them Apart
American Robin
Dark grey-brown upperparts with a warm brick-red breast and belly. White eye-ring and streaked white throat. Female slightly paler.
Bright yellow bill with a dark tip
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
American Robin
The American robin is widely regarded as a harbinger of spring across North America. Despite its name, it is a true thrush unrelated to the European robin. American robins produce two to three broods per year and are among the earliest birds to sing in the morning chorus.
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.