I LIVE IN AUSTRALIA
Native to the woodlands and open forests of Australia, the kookaburra will often find trees with lots of branches and hollowed out areas to nest in.
I AM A CARNIVORE
Although they are the largest member of the kingfisher family, the kookaburra prefers to eat other things before fish. Snakes are a particular preference of this carnivorous bird, however they will also consume other reptiles, as well as frogs and rodents.
KOOKABURRAS ARE SOCIAL
This species is a somewhat social bird and can often be found living in family groups. However, kookaburras are protective of their space when it comes to birds outside of their family group.
A LAUGHING CALL
Also known as the “laughing kookaburra,” this bird is named for the “laughing” sound that is makes. Sometimes sung in tandem with other kookaburras in their family group, this call is used to tell other groups of birds that they are nearing that family group’s space.
HELPING THE KOOKABURRA IN THE WILD
The Fort Wayne Zoo supports Greening Australia, a conservation organization that works towards providing healthy, productive landscapes where people and nature thrive.
I AM IMPORTANT TO MY ECOSYSTEM
As predators in their ecosystem, the kookaburra plays an important role of controlling the population of smaller animals like snakes, rodents, and frogs. They are also an important source of food for larger predators like owls and eagles.