Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) Fact Sheet: Distribution & Habitat

• Dacelo n. minor - Eastern coast Australia, Cape York Peninsula to Cooktown (Woodall 2001)
• Dacelo n. novaeguineae - Eastern coast Australia, south Cape York Peninsula, to Flinders Range in South Australia, and Cape Otway in New South Wales
• Introduced to Tasmania in early 1900s (Fletcher 1907); presently well-established there (Cooper et al. 2008)
• Introduced to Western Australia and are well-established there (Cooper et al. 2008)
• Introduced in South Australia's Kangaroo Island in 1926 and a small population remains (Blakers 1984)
• Ranges of laughing kookaburra overlap with Blue-winged Kookaburra from Cape York Peninsula to Brisbane (Fry et al. 1992)
• Introduced in late 1800s near Auckland, New Zealand on Kawau Island and the adjacent mainland; a small New Zealand population remains (Troup 2009)

(Woodall 2001)

• Eucalyptus forest and woodland; often found sitting in old gum (eucalypt) trees (Legge 2000)
  • Kookaburras take advantage of trees along watercourses when moving into new areas
• Also occupy wooded and cleared farmland, even city parks, and suburban gardens
• Need large, old trees with hollows for their nests (Legge 2004)

Laughing Kookaburras are mainly found in Australia.

These kookaburras have been introduced to western Australia and a small part of New Zealand.

Adapted from www.d-maps.com according to IUCN fact sheet. Click here or on map for detailed distribution (IUCN).

Blakers et al. (1984)
Cooper et al. (2008)
Fletcher (1907)
Fry et al. (1992)
Legge (2000a,b,c, 2004)
Troup (2009)
Woodall (2001)