Verandah visitor - it's the latest in verandah ornaments! Dacelo novaeguineae.

Sweet! Does it really laugh?

Oh it's a distinctive call and part of it certainly sounds like they're laughing .... the group that lives in the valley here laugh every morning just before daybreak and every evening on sunset. You will also hear laugh during the day at times. They're are lots of audio/video clips on youtube if you want to check it out.

Thanks! I'll have a look. Grey morning here in UK and a cool feeling in the air....

I like male mallard ducks for the same reason...when they quack they sound as if they're telling racy stories to each other!

Now that sounds interesting!

Homebird - the youngsters have been known to stay around for four years sometimes to help protect the family territory and help raise the young! They are amazing creatures.

A bit different to the Pidgeons in my garden. ;o(

Oldgunner ... I think the kookaburra definitely makes more noise!

I bet it does. Have heard it on TV. I bet it wakes you up in the morning!

Yes you're right - they start their laughing just before the sun comes up every day without fail! Our alarm clocks!

Kookaburra sits in an old gum tree,
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh kookaburra.....
that's all I can remember, never sung it since I was a child. hahaha

Well done Newfienurse ... then its: how gay your life must be! It's not taught to many of our children in our schools any more ... not considered correct anymore!

lol, I can't recall that part at all, but do recall the HAHAHAHA part.. too bad that the world is obsessed with being politically correct, not always for the best.
Thanks for putting a picture to the song!

The HAHA bit was the bit I loved the best! Yes the whole PC thing is just absurd sometimes. If you want to hear the real kookaburra laugh .. there's quite a few great clips on youtube.

"lives in the one place for most of its life" you say, well this one seems to have chosen to live its life on your verandah!...lucky you.
Fab scene.

Thanks for your comments Garden fool. Yes this particular kookaburra family will live in this small valley for most of their lives - our neighbours say the oldest ones have been here for over fifteen years. Some of the adolescent males do sometimes move on.

A lovely photo

Thanks Yorkshire - it's a lovely subject!