This kookaburra painting holds a special place in my heart—not just because of the subject, but because it was my second attempt.
I was originally painting a different kookaburra based on another reference photo I found on Wiki Commons. I put in hours of work, but something just wasn’t right. The composition felt off, I didn’t love the subject, and I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. So- I stopped. I made the decision to start again, which I wrote an article about by the way – you can read it here – deciding to start a painting again.
Restarting was frustrating, but absolutely the right call.
I found a new reference photo that felt instantly more inspiring – one where the kookaburra’s personality and bold posture really stood out. With this new attempt, everything started flowing again. I painted it over a few calm afternoons in my home studio with a cup of tea beside me and Alys curled up nearby.
As with all my fauna paintings:
🤍 I used a tea-stained background for warmth and a bit of a vintage-style look
🤍 I added colour swatches as part of the composition
🤍 I included the Latin name, dacelo novaeguineae, as a scientific label
🤍 I aimed for anatomical accuracy without striving for photorealism—just my interpretation, in layers of watercolour and gouache
The laughing kookaburra is one of Australia’s most well-known birds – and for good reason!
🎣 It belongs to the kingfisher family, but doesn’t fish!
😂 Its famous “laugh” is a territorial call, often heard at dawn and dusk. Both males and females laugh, and they often duet with family members.
📏 They measure about 45 cm (18 in) from beak to tail.
🌳 They are cavity nesters, often using tree hollows to raise their chicks.
👫🏽 They live in monogamous pairs and are known for strong family bonds.
🫶🏽 Juveniles will stay with their parents and help raise the next brood.
🐍 Their beaks are incredibly strong—perfect for catching snakes, lizards, and mice!
As a vet, I love diving into the anatomy and adaptations of the animals I paint. & I have had to care for a fair few injured and sick kookaburras in my career. Here are some fascinating biological features of kookaburras:
🧠 Kookaburras have a syrinx, a specialised vocal organ that lets them produce their iconic laugh.
🦴 Their skull is large and blocky, giving them a powerful bite force and strong neck muscles.
🦶🏽 Their feet are zygodactyl—two toes face forward and two backward—giving them a strong grip on branches.
🐍 They often kill prey by bashing it against a tree branch before swallowing it whole!
I’ve always felt a deep affection for kookaburras. Their laugh reminds me of camping trips, morning bushwalks, and the kind of peace that only comes from being surrounded by gum trees and open sky.
I was only 5 when we first moved to Australia, and the kookaburra bird was such a novelty to have in our back garden. My mum would help me draw all the new birds we saw in a little journal, and then we’d write the species name and a fun fact next to it. Painting this piece really took me back to that childhood project – illustrating birds and connecting with Australian wildlife.
I love the kookaburra’s bold shape, the oversized beak, square head and flashes of bright blue amongst an otherwise natural colour palette.
As both an artist and a veterinarian, I take great care to correctly identify the species I paint. Every frog, fish, or mammal I choose as a subject has unique features that make it distinct, and I want to ensure those defining traits are captured accurately.
Whenever I’m painting birds, I have my ‘complete guide to australian birds’ book open on my desk. If you love birds and are interested in australian species, I would highly recommend it!
I spend hours confirming species before I begin a painting. This includes:
🤍 Comparing multiple photos to avoid misidentifying subspecies
🤍 Looking at bird field guides and reputable wildlife databases
🤍 Ensuring I capture key identifiers
🤍 Checking in with my fellow veterinarian and veterinary nurse friends who work with wildlife.
For the laughing kookaburra, getting the species-specific details meant capturing the large, square head, the dark brown eye-stripe, the heavy bill, pale chest and warm brown feathers with a hint of blue in the wings.
Scientific accuracy matters to me – I want my work to honour these species the way they deserve 🤍 besides, a bit of science is always fun.
Australia is home to over 800 species of native birds, many of which, like the kookaburra, are deeply tied to local ecosystems. These birds help control insect populations, disperse seeds, and maintain healthy forests.
💔 Sadly, habitat destruction and invasive species continue to threaten many native birds.
🌿 Protecting their environment means planting native trees, preserving nesting sites, and reducing pesticide use.
💡 Even just observing and appreciating australian birds can foster awareness and conservation efforts.
This painting marks another addition to my growing fauna collection, and I’m already dreaming of which creature to paint next. I’m thinking more native birds, frogs, or maybe even an Australian mammal.
Here’s how you can follow along:
🛍️ Visit my shop – my dacelo novaeguineae painting is available here as a fine art giclée print, printed locally with love. You can find all my other artworks on my shop page.
📬 Join the mailing list – Get art updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, and free resources delivered straight to your inbox.
📱 Follow along on socials – I often share work-in-progress snippets, new animal references I’m considering, and little moments from my home studio.
💌 Send me your ideas – Got a native species you’d love to see painted? I’d really love to hear from you!
💻 Keep reading – in the mood to read more? check out my article on painting litoria chloris, one of my favourite australian frogs. If that doesn’t interest you, you can check out all my articles to find something else that you love.
And of course, I’ll keep sharing the story behind each piece as I go—because I believe art is even more meaningful when we know where it comes from.
☼ Higgins, P. J. (Ed.). (1999). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird. Oxford University Press.
☼ Legge, S., Woinarski, J., Garnett, S., Nimmo, D., & Scheele, B. (2020). Australia’s faunal extinction crisis. Royal Zoological Society of NSW.
☼ Paton, D. C., & Ford, H. A. (1977). Birds and their nests in natural and modified habitats in South Australia. Emu, 77(3), 132–138. https://doi.org/10.1071/MU9770132
☼ What are some fun facts about Dacelo novaeguineae?
☼ What makes kookaburras special from a veterinary perspective?
☼ Why are native birds so important to protect?
☼ How do I make sure I’m painting the right species?
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hi, i’m sarah, an australian artist head-over-heels for watercolour & creative practice- it truely is good for your soul.
& this ↑, is my girl alys.
i am completely self-taught in all the mediums i use & i am here to share everything i know with you!
i write about all things creativity, watercolour, gouache, hand-made ceramics, collecting art, & my own artistic process. I have degrees in human psychology & veterinary medicine- so you might find some sporadic related facts in my writing.
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