Photo: Greg Miles from Australia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
Dacelo gaudichaud
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud) is a member of the Alcedinidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 143 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers
- Genus Dacelo
- Species gaudichaud
Where it lives
Raja Ampat Is. (northwest of New Guinea), Aru Is. (southwest of New Guinea), Meos Num and Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., northwestern New Guinea), New Guinea, Sariba (=Rogeia) and Heath (east of southeastern New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 143 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud) is a member of the Alcedinidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Raja Ampat Is. (nw of New Guinea), Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea), Meos Num and Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., nw New Guinea), New Guinea, Sariba (=Rogeia) and Heath (e of se New Guinea).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 143 g, with a wing length of about 13 cm and a tail of around 9.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 671,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra?
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 143 g.
Where does the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra live?
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Raja Ampat Is. (nw of New Guinea), Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea), Meos Num and Yapen (Geelvink Bay is., nw New Guinea), New Guinea, Sariba (=Rogeia) and Heath (e of se New Guinea), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra belong to?
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud) belongs to the Alcedinidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra eat?
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra migrate?
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-bellied Kookaburra's range?
The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra has a mapped global range of about 671,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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