Feeding Kookaburra

14maart2007
Source: Nature information, Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is also known as the laughing jackass. Other than most kingfishers, the Kookaburra hunts for terrestrials. This kingfisher occurs in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand and feeds on reptiles, insects, snails, small birds and frogs.
The Kookaburra employ a "sit and wait" technique of hunting, surveying their surroundings from an advantageous perch, then swooping down to seize their prey. Small prey are killed directly by the crushing action of the bill. Larger prey, including snakes of up to 1 meter in length, may be whacked repeatedly against a branch or dropped from a height until pulverized.

The parents continue to feed the fledglings for several weeks after they emerge from the nest. The birds will remain together as a family group until the next breeding season begins.