Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

Breeding in managed care

• Parent kookaburras in managed care normally raise only one chick per pair each year, even though 2 or 3 eggs are usually laid (Wexler 2012)
• Hand-rearing has been successful for birds in zoos (Smith 1977)
• A constant temperature of 30°C (86°F) is needed for chicks in managed care
• Mice, day-old chicks, pieces of beef, small rats, sparrows, mealworms can be fed to kookaburras in managed care (Giles 1994)
• Stressed kookaburras will regurgitate a meal, even several hours after eating (Giles 1994)
  • When feeding rescued kookaburras, canned dog food can be used as emergency rations, but only for 24 hours
• When feeding rescued kookaburras, place food well back in mouth so they can swallow; their tongues are quite short (Giles 1994)
  • Birds under 3 months of age with short, all-black beaks require hand-feeding
• Usually not kept in aviaries with other birds it can eat (Giles 1994)
• Kookaburras placed into aviaries with already established kookaburras will likely be attacked and killed (Giles 1994)
• Since laughter is a social behavior, kookaburras don't normally laugh if alone in managed care (Giles 1994)

Guests meeting a Laughing Kookaburra at the San Diego Zoo..

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Giles (1994)
Smith (1977)
Wexler (2012)