Laughing Kookaburra vs Melanesian Kingfisher
Dacelo novaeguineae compared with Todiramphus tristrami
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Laughing Kookaburra | Melanesian Kingfisher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dacelo novaeguineae | Todiramphus tristrami |
| Order | Coraciiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae | Alcedinidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | 43.0 cm (16.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 65.0 cm (25.6 in) | — |
| Weight | 340.0 g (11.99 oz) | 40.800000000000004 g (1.44 oz) |
| Diet | Insects, lizards, snakes, small mammals, birds, and crustaceans. A sit-and-wait predator that swoops from a … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-5 | 2-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Laughing Kookaburra only
None
Melanesian Kingfisher only
Laughing Kookaburra
Eucalyptus forests, woodland, and suburban gardens throughout eastern and southwestern Australia.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Melanesian Kingfisher
Geographic Range & Migration
Laughing Kookaburra
Eastern Australia from Cape York to South Australia and Tasmania. Introduced to southwestern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Melanesian Kingfisher
Conservation Status
Laughing Kookaburra
Melanesian Kingfisher
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Melanesian 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.