Azure Kingfisher vs Laughing Kookaburra
Ceyx azureus compared with Dacelo novaeguineae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Azure Kingfisher | Laughing Kookaburra |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ceyx azureus | Dacelo novaeguineae |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 43.0 cm (16.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 14.8 cm (5.8 in) | 65.0 cm (25.6 in) |
| Weight | 31.833333333333332 g (1.12 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 | 4-7 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Laughing Kookaburra
Eucalyptus forests, woodland, and suburban gardens throughout eastern and southwestern Australia.
Song & Call Comparison
Azure 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
Azure Kingfisher
Laughing Kookaburra
Eastern Australia from Cape York to South Australia and Tasmania. Introduced to southwestern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Azure Kingfisher
Laughing Kookaburra
How to Tell Them Apart
Azure 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
Azure Kingfisher
The Azure Kingfisher is a small kingfisher found in Australia and nearby islands, weighing about 31.8g with a wingspan of 14.8cm. It inhabits the banks of streams, rivers, and lakes, plunging into water to catch small fish and aquatic invertebrates. Its brilliant azure-blue upperparts and orange underparts make it unmistakable along waterways.
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.