Blue-Winged Kookaburra

The Blue-winged Kookaburra is a large, striking kingfisher found across northern Australia, from coastal and subcoastal regions to open woodland, paperbark swamps, watercourses, clearings, canefields and farmland. It has a pale streaked head, strong bill, bright blue shoulders and rump, brown back and lightly barred underparts, with males showing a dark blue tail and females a barred reddish-brown to blackish tail.

Often seen perched quietly before dropping to the ground to seize prey, it feeds on insects, reptiles, frogs, fish, crayfish, spiders, scorpions, snakes and small birds or mammals. Its loud, harsh calls are quite different from the familiar laugh of the Laughing Kookaburra, giving this northern species a wilder, more raucous character.