Dacelo gigas Skull Replica or Laughing Kookaburra measures 4.5 inches. Dacelo gigas Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA.

The Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is a bird in the kingfisher subfamily Halcyoninae. It is a large robust kingfisher with a whitish head and a brown eye-stripe.

The Dacelo gigas or Laughing kookaburra is the largest species of kingfisher, outsizing even the giant kingfisher in body mass.

It is a stout, stocky bird 16–19 in. in length, with a large head, prominent brown eyes, and a long and robust bill.

Dacelo gigas or Laughing kookaburra have a white or cream-colored body and head with a dark brown stripe across each eye and more faintly over the top of the head. The wings and back are brown with sky blue spots on the shoulders.

The name “Laughing kookaburra” refers to the bird’s “laugh”, which it uses to establish territory among family groups. It can be heard at any time of day, but most frequently at dawn and dusk.

This species possesses a tracheo-bronchial syrinx, which creates two sources of vibrations so it can produce two frequencies at the same time with multiple harmonics.

The Dacelo gigas or Laughing kookaburra call is made through a complex sound production system, by forcing air from the lungs into the bronchial tubes.

While the structure for producing calls is present from an early age, the kookaburra’s song is a learned behavior.

The breeding pair within a riot of Kookaburra teach the fledglings to produce the signature laughing call after the young have left the nest. The adult male will sing a short portion of the call while the offspring mimics this call, usually unsuccessfully.

The singing lessons tend to last two weeks before the fledgling can properly sing and take part in crepuscular choral songs. Once mastered, the young can join in crepuscular chorus songs that aid in establishing territory.

One bird starts with a low, hiccuping chuckle, then throws its head back in raucous laughter: often several others join in. If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter.

The laughing chorus has 5 variable elements: 1. “Kooa”; 2. “Cackle”; 3. “Rolling”, a rapidly repeated “oo-oo-oo”; 4. Loud “Ha-ha”; followed by 5. Male’s call of “Go-go” or female’s call of “Gurgle”.

Hearing Dacelo gigas or Laughing kookaburra in full voice is one of the more extraordinary experiences of the Australian bush, something even locals cannot ignore; some visitors, unless forewarned, may find their calls startling.

Those calls are produced to attract or guard mates, establish and maintain the social hierarchy, and declare and defend a territory, as their calls are more often correlated with aggressiveness.

Calls are utilized as neighbor or kin recognition to exhibit that groups are still inhabiting a territory. These calls also demonstrate to receivers that highly coordinated groups are of better quality and health.

Acoustic communication between Laughing kookaburras increases 2 to 3 months before the breeding season, September to January, because male aggression also increases.

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