Wp/nys/Kaka (Kookaburra)

Kaka

Kaka call

Laughing Kookaburra distribution

Kaka or Kaa-kaa is the Noongar name for a Laughing Kookaburra. The laughing kookaburra (scientific name Dacelo novaeguineae) is a carnivorous djert in the kingfisher subfamily Halcyoninae. Kaka have beautiful feathers with a touch of blue in the wing feathers. They have been introduced to Noongar boodjar from the Eastern states, being released in Perth in 1898. A kaka sounds like a person laughing that is why Noongar have named them kaka.

The name "Kookaburra" comes from the Wiradjuri word "guuguubarra". There are four species of kookaburra in Australia, kaka is specifically the laughing kookaburra, wer although it has blue in its wing feathers it is not to be confused with the blue-winged kookaburra of northern Australia wer southern New Guinea. They are part of the scientific sub-family "tree kingfishers" (Halcyoninae). In Europe, birds like nidja live by streams wer feed il fish, hence their name kingfisher, but luckily for the kaka wer its relatives, in Australia they have diversified their food sources to include lizards wer insects, though they still like fish. They will sometimes swoop down wer take food from the fingers of people eating outside cafes or having a picnic.