Blue-winged Kookaburra
Dacelo leachii(1 photos)
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Blue-winged Kookaburra
38-40 cm. Distinguished from Laughing Kookaburra by streaked white head; 'fishy' white eye; blue wings; uniform pale blue rump; tail deep-blue (male); red-brown, barred darker (female). Plumage more buff in nw. Aust. (race occidentalis). Immature: paler streaks on head; darker mottlings. Singles, pairs; territorial groups: shy, often quiet in foliage. In flight, note pale head and wingpatch, blue rump.
- Other name
- Barking Jackass, Howling Jackass.
- Voice
- a guttural 'krock, krock', developing into a cacophony of mechanical squawks, screeches; in chorus.
- Habitat
- tropical, subtropical open woodlands; paperbark swamps, timber on watercourses, clearings, canefields, farmlands.
- Breeding
- Aug.-Jan.
- Nest
- in tree hollow; tree termite nest.
- Eggs
- 3-4; whitish, rounded.
- Range & Status
- coastal nw., n. and ne. Aust. and islands: from Shark Bay-Pilbara (WA) to c. 50 km sw. of Brisbane (Q). Uncommon. Sedentary; local seasonal movements. Also Torres Strait, s. PNG.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Dacelo leachii occidentalis 2. Dacelo leachii leachii
