This largest of the world's largest kingfishers is endemic to eastern Australia where they are common and conspicuous in wooded habitats. In some areas their loud laughing cries make a nice morning alarm clock. The species has a social breeding strategy with auxiliary helpers for each dominant breeding pair. Males and females are similar, but the female is slightly larger. Two subspecies are recognized. This is the larger, more widespread nominate race. Its scientific name is a misnomer as this species does not occur in New Guinea. The genus Dacelo is an anagram of the kingfisher genus Alcedo. This species is the subject of a famous nursery rhyme, still popular around the world. Lyrics to the Kookaburra song. Canon PowerShot SX60 HS.
References:
Fry, C.F., Fry, K. and Harris, A. (1991). Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Rollers. Princeton University Press.
Higgins , P.J. (editor) 1999. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 4, Parrots to dollarbird. Melbourne, Oxford University Press.
Michaux, B. 2013. Laughing kookaburra. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz
Woodall, P.F. (2019). Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/55742 on 23 December 2019).