Kookaburra << KUK uh `bur` uh >> is the name of a group of woodland kingfishers that live in Australia and New Guinea. Kookaburras are famous for their noisy, unusual call. The call sounds like a loud laugh. The bird is sometimes called the laughing jackass. Kookaburras call to each other early in the morning and again when they return to their nests at night. They also call as a warning for other birds to stay out of their territory. 
Kookaburras are about 17 inches (43 centimeters) long and weigh about 1 pound (0.5 kilogram). They have large heads, long bills, and brown, black, or white feathers. Their heads have a stripe of brown feathers around the eye.
Known as carnivores (meat-eaters), kookaburras eat caterpillars, fish, frogs, insects, small mammals, snakes, worms, and even small birds. They pound their catch against a rock to make the meat tender before eating it.
Kookaburras are native to eastern Australia. Nonnative populations have been established in southwestern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Kookaburras nest in tree holes. Females lay two or three white eggs. The eggs hatch in 24 to 26 days. The males fiercely defend their homes against predators. These predators include birds of prey, snakes, and foxes. The parents’ older offspring help raise and feed the younger chicks.
