Largest kingfisher

The largest species of kingfisher (family: Alcedinidae) is the laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), also known as the "bushman's alarm clock" owing to its unmistakeable vocalizations at dawn. Native to woodland and open forest in eastern Australia (though it has been introduced to other areas including Tasmania and New Zealand), it attains a total length of up to 42 centimetres (1 foot 4 inches). While females are slightly heavier than males, the bird's average weight is 465 grams (1 pound).

Kookaburras live up to 11 years in the wild and 15 years in zoos.

They belong to a subfamily known as "tree kingfishers" (Halcyoninae), whose diet is less reliant on fish than other members of the family. Their main food sources instead are insects, frogs, rodents and snakes. Although it often can be seen in parks and backyards, the bird favours drier woodlands with streams.

The kookaburra most commonly produces its distinctive laugh-like vocalizations around sunrise and sunset, as a means of familial communication. Although it may not be obvious to the unattuned ear, these birds boast a varied repertoire of calls including trills, hoots, belly laughs and chortles. Folklore suggests that the kookaburra's song invokes a higher power to bring the sun to start a new day.

Olly the Kookaburra was one of three mascots at the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, along with Syd the platypus and Millie the echidna.