Laughing Kookaburras are a common sight throughout all of Australia and given their iconic laughter are a bird known and loved throughout the world. The males have a blue patch on the rump and the females dont. They are considered raptors, preying on just about anything except fish (ironically, given their kingfisher status!)
It's said that if you want to make a Kooka sing you need to loudly roll your Rrr's, if you dont know how, perhaps get a Spaniard or Swede to do it for you :P
Information provided by the "Field Guide to the Birds of the ACT" A must have for any ACT twitchers. I'd also recommend any recent editions of Simpson and Day Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, though its not as easy to carry around when you're in the bush!