Flock Of Kookaburras

There is perhaps nothing more contagious than listening to kookaburras to ignite your own laughter. Listening to them chatter among the tree branches is like hearing a group of friends gathered to exchange outrageous tale that lead into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Kookaburras (genus Dacelo) are terrestrial tree kingfishers native to Australia and New Guinea. They are large to very large, with a total length of 28–42 cm (11–17 in). The name is a loanword from Wiradjuri guuguubarra, and is onomatopoeic of its call. Kookaburras are best known for their unmistakable call, which sounds uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter – good-natured, but rather hysterical, merriment in the case of the renowned Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae); and maniacal cackling in the case of the slightly smaller Blue-winged Kookaburra (D. leachii).