EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Blue Wings

Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii), Family Alcedinidae
Palmerston, Northern Territory, Australia

Explanation:  The blue wings are unmistakable!  And the huge bill.  And the light eyes.  And ... that we are in "Top End" of northernmost Northern Territory, Australia, near the town of Palmerston, out in the mangroves.  

Yes, this is a Blue-winged Kookaburra.  But ... it can be confused with the somewhat smaller Laughing Kookaburra, which also has blue on the wing but sports dark eyes.   

Kookaburras are in the kingfisher family.  (Or, should it be the other way around?)  

The species is found widely throughout northern Australia and in New Guinea.  They are predators of snakes, which is quite the risky business in Australia with its high diversity and density of very venomous serpents.  They also prey on other species including frogs ... another risky business in Australia, given the density of the invasive and poisonous cane toads there.