Blue-winged Kookaburra
Dacelo leachii
Family: Alcedinidae (Alcedinid Kingfishers, 10 species in Australia)
Size: 40-45 cm
Distribution: Within about 600 km of the coast of QLD, NT and most of Northern WA
Status: Common
Habitat: Open forests, woodlands, paperbark swamps
References: Simpson and Day, Reader's Digest
Very similar to the Laughing Kookaburra in appearance, but with blue wings, a pink bill and a darker blue tail.
It does not live in Sydney or the Blue Mountains but I took a nice photo of one at Australia Zoo so I have included it in this collection of Australian birds.

Photo: Australia Zoo, QLD

Artwork: John Gould, 'The Birds of Australia', 1848. Original Scanned Image.
Some Birdwatching Resources
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Photographic Field Guide Birds of Australia: Second Edition, Jim Flegg. This field guide to Australian birds is different to most in that it has photographs of each bird, rather than drawings or paintings. If you would prefer to see actual photographs of the birds, this is your guide. Most people prefer a field guide with drawings though, since the drawings are specially done to look like a generic representation of the bird, and also to point out details that can be used to tell one species from another very similar species. Photographs, especially of the more rare birds, do not always show the birds looking like they will when you see them in the wild. However, sometimes it is nice to see a real photo rather than a drawing.
Click here to purchase from Australia $30.99 AUD |
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Common Birds of Australia (Green Guide), Peter Rowland. A smaller, more introductory book. It won a Whitley Award for best zoological book. The publishers say "This book provides an introduction to the major bird groups, with an emphasis on those that the amateur naturalist and nature-lover is most likely to see. The book is organized into six sections which cover birds of prey, waders and waterbirds, seabirds, songbirds, pigeons and parrots and other birds. Information is organized simply, with individual species or group entries describing key characteristics — where they are found, food requirements and behavioural habits. Each entry is accompanied by a colour photograph and, where appropriate, distribution maps. A key feature of the text is the "gee whiz" spreads which answer many of the most commonly asked questions about why birds do what they do, revealing facts and providing practical information for the amateur enthusiast. In addition, fact panels interspersed throughout highlight surprising snippets of information.
Click here to purchase from Australia $16.99 AUD |
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