The rufous-bellied kookaburra, originally known as Gaudichaud's kookaburra after French botanist Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré, is a species of kookaburra that is widely distributed through the forests of lowland New Guinea.
Region
New Guinea and nearby islands
Typical Environment
Occurs widely through the lowland and foothill rainforests of New Guinea, in both Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua. It favors primary and tall secondary rainforest, riverine forest, and forest edges, and can occur in swamp-forest mosaics. Birds typically use shaded subcanopy perches and quiet interior trails, sometimes venturing to clearings or garden edges adjacent to forest. It is generally sedentary within its territories and is considered fairly common where suitable habitat persists.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called Gaudichaud’s kookaburra, this species is a forest-dwelling kookaburra confined to lowland New Guinea. It often hunts from shaded perches in the subcanopy, dropping to the ground or sallying to foliage to seize prey. Its loud, bubbling calls are reminiscent of other kookaburras but are higher-pitched and more trilling.
Skeleton
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Typically found singly or in pairs that maintain year-round territories. Pairs nest in tree cavities or arboreal termitaria, and both sexes participate in territory defense and provisioning of young. Displays include head-bobbing and tail-fanning accompanied by ringing calls.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, bubbling series of trills and chuckles that builds and then fades, higher-pitched than the classic Laughing Kookaburra chorus. Also gives sharp kek notes and scolding rattles during territorial encounters.
