We have two resident kookaburras

@JudyEv (353477)
Rockingham, Australia
May 17, 2025 7:34pm CST
We worked most of yesterday on the balustrade at my daughter’s house but Vince found time to take this photo of the kookaburras. So we now know that there are two that visit the garden here. I didn’t get a photo of the two together so I asked nicely and Vince has given permission for me to share this with you. I also can’t find my camera at the moment but I want to take another photo of the balustrade. It’s proving very frustrating.
13 people like this
13 responses
Four Walls
@FourWalls (74675)
• United States
8h
I saw one in person at Kentucky Down Under, and then I understood the song!
3 people like this
snowy
@snowy22315 (189464)
• United States
11h
Do they laugh? Are they the ones with the crazy song? I think a friend from Oz sent me a recording of kookaburras laughing
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
58s
Yes, they do laugh. They're often called 'laughing jackass' although not so much now. If you weren't used to them, their call could be quite scary.
Kareng
@kareng (74085)
• United States
4h
Oh they are cute! Is that the male, the darker one on the left with brighter beak? Only saying that because so many species here are that way; males are colorful and the females not so much.
1 person likes this
Kareng
@kareng (74085)
• United States
Just now
@JudyEv Got cha! I was just curious!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
I had to look it up but I'd say the one on the left is the female. Males have blue feathers on the tail and females have a reddish tail with black bars.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
@kareng I like to know these things too. Sometimes I know that I used to know the answer but too much time has gone by since I last thought about it and I've forgotten.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (474325)
• Italy
4h
I have never seen those birds even in zoos, they are cute.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (474325)
• Italy
Just now
@JudyEv It's all the time a problem when new species are introduced, the fight for food.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
They are not actually native to our state but were introduced from the east. They compete with native species for food and territory.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (148221)
• United States
11h
Very nice photo. Thank Vince for me, please and thank you. I hope you find your camera soon. It annoys me when I can't find something I know I just had.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
I'm glad you like the photo. I've found my camera now and have taken a couple of photos of the balustrade we've been working on.
rakski
@rakski (136128)
• Philippines
7h
I only knew kookaburras from the children's song. I do not even know how to spell them
2 people like this
rakski
@rakski (136128)
• Philippines
Just now
@JudyEv I just copied your title!!!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
@rakski I give you ten marks out of ten for being clever!!
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
Well, you spelt it correctly! Many myLotters seem to have learnt the kookaburra song.
1 person likes this
changjiangzhibin89
@changjiangzhibin89 (16922)
• China
2h
The birds cooperatively posed for a photo ! I know kookaburras "laugh" like human beings.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
They do have quite a human-like 'laugh'. It must have been scary for the early settlers when they heard the call for the first time.
ARIES1973
@ARIES1973 (11807)
• Legaspi, Philippines
2h
Thank you for sharing this photo. The birds are so cute! I haven't seen kookaburras in our place or probably I could differentiate one bird from the other.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
I don't think kookaburras exist in any other countries. At least not in the wild.
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (94610)
• Arvada, Colorado
25m
They really are amazing
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (94610)
• Arvada, Colorado
Just now
@JudyEv Ouch
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
They are very good at killing snakes too. They drop the snakes from a great height and it breaks their backs.
1 person likes this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (144038)
• Roseburg, Oregon
6h
I like the picture. They really are nice looking birds.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
The beaks look strong, don't they? They are good at catching and killing snakes.
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (188724)
• United States
2h
They are so cute! I hope the balustrade project gets solved.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
The balustrade is done apart from a coat of paint on one section. It turned out to be quite an exercise! lol
Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (43796)
•
4h
I have seen these birds, but only in zoos. They are so different and seem rather charming to me.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
I think they belong to the kingfisher family. They look a bit like kingfishers.
M Cheung
@Beestring (15357)
• Hong Kong
4h
Oh, they are cute!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (353477)
• Rockingham, Australia
Just now
Vince was lucky to get a photo of the two of them together.