Social Organization & Behavior
Group Dynamics
Laughing Kookaburras
live in groups of 2-9 birds normally, though a group as large as 16
members has been reported [1]. These groups are most close knit during breeding seasons [1].
Groups are made up of a breeding pair of a primary male and primary
female, who establish long term monogamy, and auxillaries (or helpers)
that assist the breeding pair in care of young, nest building,
protection 
of the nest, etc [1]. Groups
will stay together during the night in one of their prefered trees, but
leave their roost in the early morning and do not always travel with
one another during the day [1].
Auxillaries are often related to the breeding pair of the group, most
commonly being their offspring from previous seasons that may stay with
the breeding pair for many years and have been reported as young as
three months old [1].
In concerns to the care and feeding of young, both male and female auxillaries feed the nestlings equally whereas the male of the breeding pair will feed the young more than the female of the breeding pair and will often incubate the eggs more than the female as well [1].
Young auxillaries (less than a year old) will often continue to beg for food from the rest of the group without sucess [1]. They will sometimes wander into nearby territories in groups [1]. Older auxillaries sometimes travel long distances from their territories possibly searching for locations where they could possibly breed [1]. Male auxillaries often stay with the group longer (2-4 years) than female auxillaries (1-2 years) [1]. This bird also expresses the unique aspect of maintaining social bonds with members of previous groups if they encounterthem later in life and some auxillaries may even visit groups that neighbor their own group if it contains one of their relatives [1].
Comfort Behavior
These birds sit on their feet and ruffle their feathers when the weather is cold and lift their wings to allow air under them as well as open their beaks when it is hot [1]. They often preen themselves after being bothered by something and can also be observed bathing quite often [1]. They also have been seen taking objects that resemble their prey and pound them against branch as they would with their food [1].
Aggressive Behavior
Aggression exhibited between members of neighboring groups is most common three months before breeding season to the beginning of breeding season [1]. This is also the time period when fighting within group is sometimes seen, often between either member of the breeding pair and an auxillary if the auxillary sits too close to the mate of the male or female of the breeding pair or if the auxillary vocalizes [1]. Breeding females may also show aggression towards other females within her group apart from these actions [1]. The member of the breeding pair that is offended will either knock the auxillary off its branch or signal that it intends to spar with it (the signal is opening its beak in the direction of the offender) [1]. The opponent of the bird who signaled the spar are able to escape by flying away from the other bird [1].
Sparing can occur between group members and between bird from different terratories [1]. It involves the two bird clasping their bills together and trying to knock the other bird off the branch. Injury to the losing bird can be very severe and sometimes even deadly [1].
Vocalization
Vocalization is the most key aspect of communication between Laughing Kookaburras. The fact that these bird have very little sexual dimorphism tends to indicate that they use another means, besides their plumage, to attract mates and to communicate other messages [2]. The other means of communication for the Laughing Kookaburra is their amazing range of vocalization patterns. John Gould refers to the call of the Laughing Kookaburra in one of his books as sounding "like a loud, human laugh" and being heard most commonly in the morning and as the sun goes down [3].
Chorus consists of the calls of two or more bird and is usually initiated by hearing choruses of nearby groups [1]. It can be hear at sun rise and sun set and it acts as a mechanism to defend the nest and also to maintain a hierarchy amounst the breeding male and females and the auxillaries [1]. The "laugh" starts with a chuckle of repeated ooo sounds for about 2 seconds, then goes into louder repeated ha sounds for 2-5 seconds, and finishes with the softer ooo sounds for 2 seconds again [1]. This sequence can be repeated many times in a row. Throughout this laugh they may also utter a kooaa, a cackle, or a chuckle once or several times (these sounds are also made separate from the laugh itself) [1]. Squawks and screechs can also be heard from these birds from time to time [1]. The young of this species make various food-begging call and are not able to "laugh" well until about 3 months of age [1].
To listen to a chorus of "laughs" from the Laughing Kookaburra, follow this link.