Blue-Winged Kookaburra
Sounds & Calls

The Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) is a very large, distinctive species of kingfisher found in tropical woodlands and savannas in northern Australia and parts of southern New Guinea. Although similar in appearance to their famous cousin the Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Blue-winged Kookaburras have more vibrant and extensive blue feathering on their wings and rump, a finely streaked head and fierce looking, reptilian pale eyes.

A noisy species, Blue-winged Kookaburras make a range of raucous sounds including maniacal cackles, guttural squawks and mechanical laughing. Pairs and family groups of Blue-winged Kookaburras often call in chorus at dawn and dusk, their rollicking cacophonies an evocative sound of tropical woodlands within their distribution.

So discordant are the calls of this species even one field guide to Australian birds describes their voice as ‘appalling’! Other colloquial names for this species include the Barking Jackass & Howling Jackass.