Laughing Kookaburra

kingfisher · Australia · hilarious calls

Famous for laughing. The laughing kookaburra makes a distinctive call that sounds just like loud, crazy laughter. Multiple birds often laugh together at the same time, creating an amazing chorus of giggles.

Movie magic sound. This bird's laugh is so iconic that filmmakers use it as a sound effect whenever they want to make a scene feel tropical or jungle-like. You've probably heard it in movies without even knowing it came from a real bird.

Big brown and blue beauty. These are large kingfishers with dark brown backs, cream-colored bellies, and a cool mottled light-blue patch on their wings. They have a distinctive white head and a striking brown stripe across their eyes.

Territorial birds. Laughing kookaburras are very protective of their territory and use their famous laugh to tell other birds to stay away. Their call is a way of claiming their space and communicating with their family.

Males and females look alike. Unlike many bird species, male and female laughing kookaburras have nearly identical plumage, making it hard to tell them apart just by looking at them.