Which Australian bird is famous for its distinctive laughing call?

The kookaburra is the Australian bird famous for its distinctive laughing call.

The call is a loud, rolling sequence of notes produced mainly by the laughing kookaburra, the largest member of the kingfisher family. It is used to advertise territory and help family groups maintain contact, rather than expressing amusement.

Kookaburras often call in groups, especially around dawn and dusk. Their calls can sound like several birds laughing together because family members may join in after one bird begins.

A common mix-up is assuming every kookaburra has the same call. The blue-winged kookaburra has a different, more manic-sounding vocal repertoire. Kookaburras are also kingfishers, although unlike many kingfishers they commonly hunt from branches and take prey on land.