Taxonomy
The Blue-winged Kookaburra was first collected by Sir Joseph Banks in 1770, but was initially overlooked and confused with the Laughing Kookaburra, and was finally officially described by Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield in 1826, its specific name commemorating the British zoologist William Elford Leach. It is one of four members of the genus Dacelo which are commonly known as kookaburras. Alternative common names include Barking or Howling Jackass, or Leach's Kookaburra.
The number of subspecies is unclear - with four recognised by most authorities, although others have proposed the three Australian subspecies gradually change across Australia and should be treated as one.
- D. leachii leachii is the nominate subspecies, found from Brisbane to Broome.
- D. leachii cervina is found on Melville Island and the adjacent mainland.
- D. leachii cliftoni is found in the Pilbara and Hamersley regions of northwestern Australia.
- D. leachii intermedia is found in southern New Guinea.
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