Laughing Kookaburra vs Little Paradise-kingfisher

Dacelo novaeguineae compared with Tanysiptera hydrocharis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Laughing Kookaburra Little Paradise-kingfisher
Scientific Name Dacelo novaeguineae Tanysiptera hydrocharis
Order Coraciiformes Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae Alcedinidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Data Deficient
Length 43.0 cm (16.9 in)
Wingspan 65.0 cm (25.6 in) 17.4 cm (6.9 in)
Weight 340.0 g (11.99 oz) 33.0 g (1.16 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

Body Length
Laughing Kookaburra 43.0 cm
Little Paradise-kingfisher
Wingspan
Laughing Kookaburra 65.0 cm
Little Paradise-kingfisher 17.4 cm
Weight
Laughing Kookaburra 340.0 g
Little Paradise-kingfisher 33.0 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Laughing Kookaburra only

Little Paradise-kingfisher only

None

Laughing Kookaburra

Eucalyptus forests, woodland, and suburban gardens throughout eastern and southwestern Australia.

Song & Call Comparison

Laughing Kookaburra

Song

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.

Little Paradise-kingfisher

Geographic Range & Migration

Laughing Kookaburra

Eastern Australia from Cape York to South Australia and Tasmania. Introduced to southwestern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.

Little Paradise-kingfisher

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Laughing Kookaburra

Data Deficient

Little Paradise-kingfisher

How to Tell Them Apart

Laughing Kookaburra

Plumage

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.

Bill

Very large, heavy, dark upper mandible and pale lower mandible

Little Paradise-kingfisher

About These Birds

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.

Related Comparisons

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family