Lachender Hans

Largest of all kingfishers, the Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) rarely takes fish, hunting terrestrial prey instead from a perch. Its plumage is brown above with blue patches on the wings and rump, creamy white on the head and underparts, broken by a dark eye-stripe; the tail is dark brown with rufous barring, and the bill is very large, with a dark upper and pale lower mandible. Eucalyptus forest, woodland and suburban gardens across eastern and south-western Australia hold the species. The rollicking call that gives the bird its name rises and then falls, and family groups call in chorus at dawn and dusk to advertise territory. Adults measure about 43 cm and 340 g.