What Do Kookaburras Eat? (Complete Guide)

The iconic bird of Australasia, the kookaburra is probably best known for its incredible call. Kookaburras are closely related to kingfishers and belong to the same family of kingfishers.

There are four species of kookaburra Darcylo; Laughing kookaburra, blue-winged kookaburra, rufous kookaburra and sequined kookaburra.The other is the shovel-billed kookaburra, which is in its own genus scarab. Here we will answer the question in detail; What do kookaburras eat?

Kookaburras eat almost exclusively vertebrates and invertebrates, from venomous snakes and amphibians to small insects and earthworms. But, like kingfishers, some kookaburras also catch fish. Kookaburras perch at an altitude of about 1 to 10 meters and intently scan the area for prey before swooping down. They have also been observed digging for prey underground, especially the shovel-billed kookaburra.

All species of kookaburra inhabit food-dense forests and rainforests, and can easily meet their daily dietary needs!

But, of course, there is much more to learn about the diet and feeding habits of this unique and iconic bird – read on to find out!

kookaburra eating worms

What do kookaburras eat in the wild?

The diets of all five kookaburra species are relatively similar. These birds mainly eat arthropods, invertebrates and vertebrates. They are considered carnivores because plant foods make up almost 0% of their diet.

Kookaburras have a varied diet ranging from larger lizards, frogs and even poisonous snakes to ants, termites and grasshoppers.

The largest of the kookaburras, the kookaburra also has the most diverse diet, eating a variety of small vertebrates, from mice to frogs, snakes and birds.

However, most of their diet consists of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, earwigs, centipedes, millipedes, caterpillars, moths, and various flies. That being said, a study in Melbourne found that about 35 percent of the kookaburra’s diet consisted of snakes and lizards.

Some of the kookaburra’s favorite invertebrate prey include grasshoppers, beetles, ants, earwigs, moths, earthworms, cicadas, flies, millipedes, spiders, stick insects, and centipedes. In terms of vertebrates, kookaburras eat lizards, snakes, mice, rats, birds, chicks, and frogs.

Kookaburras also eat fish, catching them in a similar fashion to kingfishers and hunting crustaceans like crabs and crayfish by smashing them against rocks.

Studies of kookaburras generally find that they eat more invertebrates than vertebrates; for example, a study of blue-winged kookaburras found that they ate 59 percent of invertebrates and 41 percent of vertebrates .

Kookaburra perched with large caterpillar

What do kookaburras eat?

The largest kookaburra, Laughing kookaburra, has the most diverse diet of all kookaburras. These hardy birds are often found capturing snakes and reptiles that are longer than themselves and clubbing them to death against rocks or trees before dismembering them into small pieces for consumption.

The kookaburras of Papua New Guinea (shovel-billed kookaburra, red-bellied kookaburra and sequined kookaburra) eat insects as a staple food.

How do kookaburras find food?

Kookaburras often perch on tree branches or man-made structures about 1 to 10 meters high in search of food, scanning the floor for prey before swooping down to catch it. They also forage from tree canopies, especially the small kookaburra of Papua New Guinea.

Kookaburras are sometimes observed digging underground while hunting for ants, earthworms, earwigs and other terrestrial prey.

Shovel-billed kookaburras are good at digging – they have been observed regularly ‘farming’ specific areas in search of earthworms and other buried prey.

Like the kingfisher, the kookaburra feeds on aquatic prey such as fish and amphibians. They are capable of catching fish from below the surface, but deeper dives have also been observed – though not as impressively as other kingfishers.

Kookaburras also raid the nests of other birds in pursuit of chicks, especially during the breeding season.

Perched Kookaburra patiently waiting for prey

What time of day do kookaburras eat?

Kookaburras are diurnal birds that roost for approximately 12 hours a day. They spend most of the day foraging from dawn to sunset.

Since kookaburras rely primarily on vision to find prey on the ground or in tree canopies, they only hunt in well-lit conditions.

What do kookaburras eat in winter?

A kookaburra’s winter diet differs little from its standard diet. These are flexible, adaptable hunters that eat the most available prey in their habitat.

Winters in most of Australia are mild, if practically non-existent. June and July are the coldest months, with temperatures rarely dropping below 5°C. Frost is possible in remote areas. In Papua New Guinea, winter temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius!

Kingfisher perched on a branch eating fish

What do kookaburras eat in summer?

During the summer, kookaburras eat almost the same diet as their standard diet. Any available prey within their habitat will be easily hunted and eaten.

In much of Australia and Papua New Guinea, the summer heat can be unbearable, with daytime temperatures regularly hitting the 40s. As such, kookaburras typically avoid the heat, confining themselves to the shade of their forest habitat.

What does the little laughing kingfisher eat?

The little kookaburra feeds primarily on soft invertebrates and insects. Typical foods include earthworms, crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas, and beetles. Both parents feed the chicks, sometimes assisted by nesting helpers.

Kookaburras live in family groups of about six birds, including last year’s young. These helpers help hatch and feed the chicks.

Kingfisher Feeds on Swamp Snake

What Foods Can You Feed Kookaburras?

Kookaburras feed on almost any scrap of meat, including strips of beef, chicken, and pork. They will also eat mealworms, preferably alive.

Rats are often fed to captive or rescued kookaburras along with mealworms and special feed. Kookaburras may also eat fruit and seeds if offered at the bird table or on the ground, but this is not their preferred food.

Do kookaburras go to bird feeders?

Kookaburras are too big to go to back garden bird feeders, so they are never frequented.

However, they will swoop in and take the crumbs off the bird table. In general, kookaburras prefer to feed from the ground. If you want to feed kookaburras, give them meat scraps to scatter on your lawn.

A pair of kookaburras being fed in the yard

Do kookaburras eat on the ground?

Kookaburras are adaptable and aggressive hunters, but their main and preferred method of predation is from the ground.

Some smaller Papua New Guinea kookaburras also hunt in the canopy and have been observed flitting among the branches while collecting large insects.

Do kookaburras drink water?

Kookaburras rarely drink water, as most of their dietary moisture comes from food.

kookaburra drinking water

Are kookaburras carnivores?

Since they do not eat vegetables or plant foods, kookaburras are considered carnivores. Their diet consists almost entirely of invertebrates and vertebrates.

In captivity, kookaburras typically eat fruit, seeds, and other non-meat foods.

How to Attract Kookaburras to My Yard?

Kookaburras are easily attracted to mealworms and meat scraps. They prefer to feed directly from the ground, so you don’t need a bird table or feeder to attract them.

Kookaburras are also not afraid of humans and will hand feed – but beware, they may mistake your fingers for juicy earthworms!

Kookaburra sitting on perch on sandy beach

Kookaburra Diet FAQs

Do kookaburras eat chicken?

Kookaburras won’t eat chickens in their native habitat — unless they’re opportunistically preying on chicks. However, they will take the chicken scraps off the garden bird table.

Do kookaburras eat snakes?

The kookaburra is very good at catching snakes, it has been observed to kill and eat snakes about 1 meter long! These birds kill snakes by clubbing them to death, then dismember them into small pieces before eating them.

Do kookaburras eat other birds?

Kookaburras eat other birds and their chicks, but this is not particularly common. Overall, kookaburras are opportunistic predators and will eat just about anything that will allow them to grow a sharp beak.

Laughing kookaburra in flight

Do kookaburras eat gummies?

The song “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gumdrop Tree” refers to how these birds use gumdrop trees as perches. However, they don’t actually eat the gummy seed pods. Kookaburras are carnivorous hunters.

Do kookaburras eat fish?

Kookaburra, also known as “terrestrial kingfisher”, belongs to the same family as kingfisher and is good at fishing. Kookaburras do prey on fish and crustaceans, and they have been observed diving below the surface to hunt. However, they do not possess the same fishing prowess as many kingfishers.

Do kookaburras eat meat?

Kookaburras are considered carnivores, so they only eat meat. Kookaburras eat the flesh of vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, rodents, birds, and other mammals, and invertebrates such as flies, crickets, worms, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, beetles, and more.

kookaburra eating ghost crab

Do kookaburras eat bananas?

Captive kookaburras can develop a taste for fruit and can eat bananas. In the wild, however, kookaburras are considered carnivores.

Do kookaburras eat frogs?

Kookaburras hunt frogs and other amphibians. They are opportunistic, aggressive hunters.

Do kookaburras eat seeds?

While wild kookaburras are carnivorous, captive kookaburras have been known to eat bird food.

Do kookaburras eat bread?

Wild kookaburras will not eat bread, nor should they be tempted to do so. In fact, bread isn’t particularly good for any bird.

Do kookaburras eat mice?

Kookaburras like to eat mice and other small mammals. They eat wild and captive mice.