History Main / JunglesSoundLikeKookaburras

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[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kookaburra.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Merry, merry king of the sound catalogue is he. [[https://stevografix.com.au/birds/laughing-kookaburra.html Source]]]]

The thing, though, is that this bird is actually only native to [[UsefulNotes/AustralianWildlife Australia]], yet in popular culture you can hear him in every tropical forest from Latin America over Africa to Asia. Still, the kookaburra laugh has become so prominent for scenes taking place in a jungle that creators will still add it to the soundtrack, because [[TheCoconutEffect somehow it just doesn't sound the same without it.]] The sound effect is quite bemusing for Australians who are used to hearing the sound.

The thing, though, is that this bird is actually only native to [[UsefulNotes/AustralianWildlife Australia]], yet in popular culture you can hear him in every tropical forest from Latin America over Africa to Asia. A prime example of MisplacedWildlife. Still, the kookaburra laugh has become so prominent for scenes taking place in a jungle that creators will still add it to the soundtrack, because [[TheCoconutEffect somehow it just doesn't sound the same without it.]] The sound effect is quite bemusing for Australians who are used to hearing the sound.

The thing, though, is that this bird is actually only native to [[UsefulNotes/AustralianWildlife Australia]], yet in popular culture you can hear him in literally every tropical forest from Latin America over Africa to Asia. A prime example of MisplacedWildlife. Still, the kookaburra laugh has become so prominent for scenes taking place in a jungle that creators will still add it to the soundtrack, because [[TheCoconutEffect somehow it just doesn't sound the same without it.]] The sound effect is quite bemusing for Australians who are used to hearing the sound.

One of the StockSoundEffects that pop up whenever films, cartoons or TV series depict a jungle environment with a NoisyNature is the cackling laugh of the kookaburra, which sounds something like: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXA0-YAoo9Q OOOOOO-HOOO-OOO-HOO-HOO-AHAHAHAHA]]" and is often assumed to be a monkey by people unfamiliar with the bird. It doesn't help much that we often hear the sound [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen without actually seeing the animal making it]], thus adding to the confusion. The laugh sounds great and really puts in the right mood for a mysterious adventure set in an impenetrable jungle.

The thing, though, is that this bird is actually only native to [[UsefulNotes/AustralianWildlife Australia]], yet in popular culture you can hear him in literally every forest from Latin America over Africa to Asia. A prime example of MisplacedWildlife. Still, the kookaburra laugh has become so prominent for scenes taking place in a jungle that creators will still add it to the soundtrack, because [[TheCoconutEffect somehow it just doesn't sound the same without it.]] The sound effect is quite bemusing for Australians who are used to hearing the sound.

Can also be PlayedForLaughs, by depicting a regular forest or somebody's backyard at night. [[{{JustifiedTrope}} Unless the backyard is in Australia]].

One of the StockSoundEffects that pop up whenever films, cartoons or TV series depict a jungle environment with a NoisyNature is the cackling laugh of a species of kingfisher called the kookaburra, which sounds something like: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXA0-YAoo9Q OOOOOO-HOOO-OOO-HOO-HOO-AHAHAHAHA]]" and is often assumed to be a monkey by people unfamiliar with the bird. It doesn't help much that we often hear the sound [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen without actually seeing the animal making it]], thus adding to the confusion. The laugh sounds great and really puts in the right mood for a mysterious adventure set in an impenetrable jungle.

It should be noted that Australia does in fact areas of jungle/tropical rainforest in the northeast.

It should be noted that Australia does in fact have small areas of jungle/tropical rainforest in the northeast. Though there are no monkeys there.

The sad thing, though, is that this bird is actually only native to ''[[UsefulNotes/AustralianWildlife Australia]]'', yet in popular culture you can hear him in literally every forest from Latin America over Africa to Asia. A prime example of MisplacedWildlife. Still, the kookaburra laugh has become so prominent for scenes taking place in a jungle that creators will still add it to the soundtrack, because [[TheCoconutEffect somehow it just doesn't sound the same without it.]] The sound effect is quite bemusing for Australians who are used to hearing the sound.

The sad thing, though, is that this bird is actually only native to [[UsefulNotes/AustralianWildlife Australia]], yet in popular culture you can hear him in literally every forest from Latin America over Africa to Asia. A prime example of MisplacedWildlife. Still, the kookaburra laugh has become so prominent for scenes taking place in a jungle that creators will still add it to the soundtrack, because [[TheCoconutEffect somehow it just doesn't sound the same without it.]] The sound effect is quite bemusing for Australians who are used to hearing the sound.

* In the VideoGame/DonkeyKong64 level JungleJapes, the kookaburra ambience is audible with its soundtrack.

* A kookaburra laugh is heard in the opening scene of ''Disney/TheJungleBook'', which takes place in the jungles of India.

* In one version of the children's song "Kookaburra", the kookaburra "counts all the monkeys he can see". The species of kookaburra known for its laugh-like cry is native only to Australia, which has no native monkeys. Since the end of that verse has the singer object to being counted as a monkey, "counting monkeys" might be a roundabout way for the kookaburra to make a SonOfAnApe joke.

[[caption-width-right:300:''Merry, merry king of the sound catalogue, he.'' [[https://stevografix.com.au/birds/laughing-kookaburra.html Source]]]]

It should be noted that Australia does in fact have small areas of jungle/tropical rainforest in the northeast. Though there is no monkeys there.

* In ''Objective, Burma!'' (1945), the kookaburra is heard early in the movie, in Burma (which is not Australia).

[[caption-width-right:300:[[https://stevografix.com.au/birds/laughing-kookaburra.html Source]]]]

The sad thing, though, is that this bird is actually only native to UsefulNotes/AustralianWildlife, yet in popular culture you can hear him in literally every forest from Latin America over Africa to Asia. A prime example of MisplacedWildlife. Still, the kookaburra laugh has become so prominent for scenes taking place in a jungle that creators will still add it to the soundtrack, because [[TheCoconutEffect somehow it just doesn't sound the same without it.]] The sound effect is quite bemusing for Australians who are used to hearing the sound.

Compare to MisplacedWildlife (unless a story is set in Australia) and MusicAndSoundEffects.