The Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) is around 40 cm long, has light-coloured eyes, blue wing feathers and no dark eye-mask. Where do they live? The Blue-winged Kookaburra is restricted to southern New Guinea and the moister parts of northern Australia, through to, and including Southern Queensland. The Laughing and Blue-winged species are direct competitors in the area where their ranges overlap. This suggests that the two species, though having common stock, evolved in isolation. What do they eat? Kookaburras are very large terrestrial kingfishers. Kookaburras hunt similar to other kingfishers, by perching on a convenient branch or wire and waiting patiently for prey to pass by. Including, mice, small mammals, large insects, lizards, small birds and nestlings, and most famously, snakes. Small prey are preferred, but kookaburras frequently take surprisingly large creatures, including venomous snakes a good deal longer than the bird itself. Behaviour: Kookaburras are best known for their unmistakable call which is uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter. The more common Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), has a good-natured, if rather hysterical merriment. The slightly smaller Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii), has an almost insane cackling. Kookaburras occupy woodland territories in loose family groups, and their laughter serves the same purpose as many other bird calls, to demarcate territorial borders. It can be heard at any time of day, but most frequently shortly after dawn, and especially when the colour drains from the forest after sunset.