Head to head
Blue-winged Kookaburra vs Laughing Kookaburra
The blue-winged kookaburra and laughing kookaburra are close relatives that share a land-hunting lifestyle, but their calls and ranges set them clearly apart.
| Blue-winged Kookaburra | Laughing Kookaburra | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Dacelo leachii | Dacelo novaeguineae |
| Relative size | Large | World's largest kingfisher |
| Wing pattern | Flash of blue | No blue wing flash |
| Call | Harsher, more cackling | Famous laughing chorus |
| Native range | Northern Australia, New Guinea | Much of Australia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Forest, grassland | Forest, grassland |
Blue-winged Kookaburra vs Laughing Kookaburra: common questions
Which is bigger, the blue-winged kookaburra or the laughing kookaburra?
The laughing kookaburra is bigger, holding the title of world's largest kingfisher, while the blue-winged kookaburra is a large bird in its own right but somewhat smaller than its more famous relative.
How do the calls of the blue-winged kookaburra and laughing kookaburra differ?
The laughing kookaburra gives the famous rolling, laugh-like chorus the family is named for, while the blue-winged kookaburra has a harsher, more cackling call that lacks the same musical quality.
Do the blue-winged kookaburra and laughing kookaburra share the same range?
They overlap in parts of northern Australia, but the blue-winged kookaburra is found mainly across northern Australia and New Guinea, while the laughing kookaburra is more widespread across much of the rest of Australia.