"Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree"

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"Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree" is the first line of the popular Australian nursery rhyme "Kookaburra", written in 1934 by Marion Sinclair. Indeed, the immature laughing kookaburra in this image is sitting in a very old gum tree, otherwise known as a Eucalyptus.

The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is a large and robust terrestrial tree kingfisher native to eastern mainland Australia, but it has been introduced to parts of New Zealand, Tasmania, and Western Australia. Although they belong to the larger group known as "kingfishers", kookaburras are not closely associated with water. The territorial call is a very loud and distinctive laugh that is often delivered by several birds at the same time. The laughing kookaburra is sedentary and occupies the same territory throughout the year. It is monogamous, retaining the same partner for life. A breeding pair can be accompanied by up to five fully grown non-breeding offspring from previous years that help the parents defend their territory and raise their young.

The laughing kookaburras diet includes lizards, insects, worms, snakes, mice and it is known to take goldfish out of garden ponds. They typically wait for prey while perched on a branch like the kookaburra in this photograph. When their prey is seen on the ground they fly down and grab it.