I'm a few days into a hectic week, so I just tell you that this is the largest kingfisher in the world!
Also, I can't resist a good tale of taxonomy, busy or not. The Laughing Kookaburra goes by the name of Dacelo novaeguineae. The genus name is an anagram of the genus of the Kingfisher found in the UK - and the first specimen of this species was thought to have come from New Guinea. In fact it came from what is now New South Wales in Australia. So, the name is a combination of a private joke and a mistake!
In one of these pictures you can see the nictitating membrane, a thin membrane that is drawn over the eye to help keep it moist.
Now (as ever) its your turn to link up with WBW. Click on the blue button below and off you go.
(For some reason, word verification may show up when some of you try to comment - this issue has started recently and may be to do with the security setting in some peoples internet browsers - I can assure you that the function is turned off at my end. SM)
Awesome shots!
ReplyDeleteawesome bird and awesome photos! love the fence percher!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant shots Stewart. What a cracking bird. I've only seen one in captivity, here in Cheshire. I guess that's the best I'll be able to do until I board a plane and head to Oz.
ReplyDeleteHandsome fellow! I love the sound of the word Kookaburra. Makes me laugh. :))
ReplyDeleteSuperb captures Stewart! One of my favourite Aussie birds.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see these birds. Nice close ups and they remind me of Kingfishers...except maybe a little bit more ready for a pose:)
ReplyDeleteI thought this bird was rare in your country. But I saw it almost every I was there.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do agree with EG, handsome he is and I do love the name!! I've never seen one before and what a beauty he is!! Thanks so much for sharing, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird
ReplyDeleteGreat shots
Fabulous photos of a bird I'd like to photograph...but never will.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking bird!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the Kookaburra, it would be fun to see them and the other kingfishers, it seems there are 9 in Oz, I just looked them up. I used to see them at the San Diego Zoo. Thanks for the info about their name, that is so funny. Those zoologists must have had fun. I know some of my flowers were named after someone's girlfriend, Melissa, Prunella. I have seen the one that lives up here a few times from a distance.
ReplyDeleteI love the fence shot. You really got some nice ones. He's so cute. I just illustrated him for the laughing Kookaburra nursery rhyme.
ReplyDeleteHe definately looks like an overstuffed Kingfisher ... beautiful in his onw way and I do believe I detect a smirk on his face as he sits over the Serenity sign ... which he is anything but :) Leave it to you to capture a visual oxymoron :) Have a great week, Stewart ...
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
These are great shots of that beautiful bird, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of this bird and I am laughing at the last shot with the word 'serenity' as that would not be the case when this bird is calling!! I can imitate this bird!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat Photos!
ReplyDeleteI saw the nictating membrane in the fourth photo. What stunning pictures of such a beautiful bird. It's very much like our Kingfisher, particularly the Striped Kingfisher. Thanks for hosting this wonderful meme. I'll link up tomorrow (Wednesday) Greetings Jo, Tanzania
ReplyDeleteThat last image is especially delightful. The bird seems to reflect the theme. No movie about Australia would be complete without the call of the Kookaburra!
ReplyDeleteIt's such an awesome bird! Great photos! Serenity as long as he does make his distinctive call! :-)
ReplyDeleteMarvellous shots of the kingfisher! What a handsome bird!
ReplyDeleteYou surprised me there Stewart as I saw Giant Kingfisher in Gambia and thought them to be pretty big! Now Kookaburra is bigger and I am really impressed.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures there of course.
Pretty little bird - love the blue on his wings.
ReplyDeleteThey are great pictures. It looks like a real solid, chunky bird, but I bet it is really agile.
ReplyDeleteKookaburras are always beautiful and your photos are great!
ReplyDeleteI was always fascinated by this bird as a child as my older brother would test me on birds! He was a bird fan then. It has stuck with me over the yrs. lol x
ReplyDeleteI know them only from the zoo, but they are really fascinating birds, great photos and capture.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that this bird was a member of the Kingfisher family. It is such a beautiful bird. You have so many good ones!
ReplyDeleteThis is one bird I would love to see in the wild. Awesome photos, Stewart.. Thanks for hosting..enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought these were fantastic looking birds! Love the bill! Your photos are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSteward, oszukujesz. ;)
ReplyDelete:)))
I'd probably make the drive to see the other one. My field guide should have come with a warning that birding can be addictive. It's more expensive than my poker habit.
ReplyDeleteWe don't get to see this here.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics.
That is a beautiful bird! Love how he is perched on the Serenity sign. Thank you for hosting WBW!
ReplyDeleteNeat bird!
ReplyDeleteI'm not seeing word verification, by the way.
What a cutie! It did perch nicely to adorn the sign.
ReplyDeleteSo cute, I hope he sung for you. They remind me of kingfishers, especially after tying to photograph them this weekend.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent beauties Stewart and the sign the one is perched on, is quite cute too. We have a species of Kookaburras at our Louisville Zoological Gardens but not sure which one.
ReplyDeleteA very unusual bird... thank you for introducing him to me.
ReplyDeleteFabulous shots! I googled the kookaburra a while back to listen to him and my family looked at me like I'd lost my marbles.
ReplyDeleteLovely shots, especially the first with that green 'bokeh' through the background.
ReplyDeleteHad no idea that was the story behind 'Dacelo'!
What a neat looking bird. The kingfisher looks very similar.
ReplyDeleteStewart, are they related to the Kingfisher? Their shape resembles them...:)JP
ReplyDeleteGreat captures! It is fun just saying the common name of this bird! Namaste!
ReplyDeleteWell, I always think they do look like they are smiling .... a wonderful thing to look at any day....
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful kingfisher! Photographing a kingfisher in Istanbul (it is very rare due to urbanisation and pollution of the waters) is one of my dreams. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteLooks a lot like our American Kingfisher as well!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!!.. Well-done.. :-)))
ReplyDeleteGreat taxonomy tale Stewart. Never knew that.
ReplyDeleteFabulous images, Stewart! I love Kookaburras!!
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart,
ReplyDeletemarvelous photos of this little beautiful bird. Amazing !
Have a nice weekend. Best regards, Synnöve
I don't see him laughing, but he is a handsome looking character. Great photos Stewart...
ReplyDelete