19-4-2018 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is a member of the roller family, Coraciidae, resplendent in a panoply of pastel hues. This African bird is a sight to behold, with its lilac throat and breast, olive crown to mantle, and cheeks of lilac-rufous. The species is further adorned with long, black tail streamers, which juveniles lack. Unofficially, it is considered the national bird of Kenya.

In the field, the lilac-breasted roller is almost unmistakable. Adults boast a lilac throat that deepens into a darker lilac breast, with an olive crown and mantle. The cheeks and ear coverts are a lilac-rufous. Juveniles and immatures can be identified by their lack of tail streamers and a throat and breast of rufous-tawny with broad diffuse buffy-white streaks. The species is not sexually dimorphic, though males may be slightly larger.

The lilac-breasted roller favors open woodland and savanna, typically avoiding treeless expanses. They are often seen perched high, surveying the landscape for prey.

This species is widely distributed across Southern and Eastern Africa and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It is most abundant in Kenya and can be found from sea level to elevations of 2,000 meters or more.

14-8-2017 AMSTERDAM ZOO, NETHERLANDS - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is a member of the roller family, Coraciidae, resplendent in a panoply of pastel hues. This African bird is a sight to behold, with its lilac throat and breast, olive crown to mantle, and cheeks of lilac-rufous. The species is further adorned with long, black tail streamers, which juveniles lack. Unofficially, it is considered the national bird of Kenya.

In the field, the lilac-breasted roller is almost unmistakable. Adults boast a lilac throat that deepens into a darker lilac breast, with an olive crown and mantle. The cheeks and ear coverts are a lilac-rufous. Juveniles and immatures can be identified by their lack of tail streamers and a throat and breast of rufous-tawny with broad diffuse buffy-white streaks. The species is not sexually dimorphic, though males may be slightly larger.

6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2269-Coracias-caudatus

6-4-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2269-Coracias-caudatus

4-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2269-Coracias-caudatus

28-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2269-Coracias-caudatus

21-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2269-Coracias-caudatus

 

6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus) PHOTO COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. It is widely distributed in Southern and Eastern Africa, and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It prefers open woodland and savanna, and it is for the most part absent from treeless places. Usually found alone or in pairs, it perches at the tops of trees, poles or other high vantage points from where it can spot insects, amphibians and small birds moving about on the ground. Nesting takes place in a natural hole in a tree where a clutch of 2–4 eggs are laid, and incubated by both parents, who are extremely aggressive in defence of their nest, taking on raptors and other birds. During the breeding season the male will rise to a fair height (69 to 144 metres), descending in swoops and dives, while uttering harsh, discordant cries. The sexes are different in coloration, and juveniles lack the long tail streamers of adults. This species is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya. Alternative names for the lilac-breasted roller include the fork-tailed roller, lilac-throated roller (also used for a subspecies of purple roller) and Mosilikatze's roller.

Lilac-breasted rollers are found throughout eastern and southern Africa, and occurs locally at sea level, and up to 2,000 metres above sea level or over. Their range extends from the Red Sea coast of Eritrea through East Africa (including Zanzibar) to southern Africa, where they occur commonly in Namibia (excluding the Namib Desert), Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa. The nominate subspecies C. c. caudatus is non-migratory, but a measure of post-breeding dispersal occurs into miombo woodland or sandy areas, before they return to the breeding areas at the start of the rains. Its counterpart, the lilac-throated roller (C. c. lorti) migrates from northeast Kenya to northwest Somalia to breed from late April to mid-September. The latter subspecies is also a vagrant to Eritrea, Oman and Yemen. Lilac-breasted rollers are most abundant in Kenya, though the species is less abundant than in former times.

Both subspecies live in open savannah habitats with scattered trees and shrubs, as the birds require higher perches for feeding and nesting. Less often they frequent riverine vegetation and light forest, and may enter subdesert steppe or open grassland where any elevated perches may be used. In protected areas, lilac-breasted rollers are among the bird species that frequent the verges of roads, especially during fires, when the small animals and insects that emerge from cover are easily predated. However, lilac-breasted rollers avoid other human-influenced areas and are not found in urban or rural areas unless they are abandoned. Outside of protected areas such as national parks, lilac-breasted rollers may infrequently be seen when farmers burn land for agricultural use. Such brush fires stir up insects and other invertebrates, and birds can be seen swooping in for easy prey.

21-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. It is widely distributed in Southern and Eastern Africa, and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It prefers open woodland and savanna, and it is for the most part absent from treeless places. Usually found alone or in pairs, it perches at the tops of trees, poles or other high vantage points from where it can spot insects, amphibians and small birds moving about on the ground. Nesting takes place in a natural hole in a tree where a clutch of 2–4 eggs are laid, and incubated by both parents, who are extremely aggressive in defence of their nest, taking on raptors and other birds. During the breeding season the male will rise to a fair height (69 to 144 metres), descending in swoops and dives, while uttering harsh, discordant cries. The sexes are different in coloration, and juveniles lack the long tail streamers of adults. This species is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya. Alternative names for the lilac-breasted roller include the fork-tailed roller, lilac-throated roller (also used for a subspecies of purple roller) and Mosilikatze's roller.

Lilac-breasted rollers are found throughout eastern and southern Africa, and occurs locally at sea level, and up to 2,000 metres above sea level or over. Their range extends from the Red Sea coast of Eritrea through East Africa (including Zanzibar) to southern Africa, where they occur commonly in Namibia (excluding the Namib Desert), Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa. The nominate subspecies C. c. caudatus is non-migratory, but a measure of post-breeding dispersal occurs into miombo woodland or sandy areas, before they return to the breeding areas at the start of the rains. Its counterpart, the lilac-throated roller (C. c. lorti) migrates from northeast Kenya to northwest Somalia to breed from late April to mid-September. The latter subspecies is also a vagrant to Eritrea, Oman and Yemen. Lilac-breasted rollers are most abundant in Kenya, though the species is less abundant than in former times.

28-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2269-Coracias-caudatus

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is a beautifully colored African bird known for its acrobatic aerial displays during the breeding season. The sexes look similar, and juveniles lack the long tail streamers of adults. This species is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya.

These large-headed birds are almost unmistakable with their colorful plumage tones. The lilac throat of the nominate subspecies C. c. caudatus deepens into a darker lilac breast. The crown to the mantle is olive, and the cheeks and ear coverts a lilac-rufous. In subspecies C. c. lorti however, the crown to mantle is greenish blue instead of olive, and the breast azure. The throat is lilac, and some Lilac-throated rollers have a lilac patch or rufous-brown tinges on the lower abdomen. Both subspecies have long, black outermost tail streamers that are absent in juveniles. The males and the females look alike though males may be slightly larger than females. Juveniles, immatures, and adults have the largest alula feather dark blue, but the primary coverts and rest of the alula are azure. The proximal half of the remiges are also a brilliant azure, and the distal half is black on the inner web, and dark purple-blue on the outer webs. Juveniles have the throat and breast rufous-tawny with broad diffuse buffy-white streaks with mauve margins on some feathers. Immatures have the breast buffy with occasional lilac feathers and diffuse pale streaking. Unique to rollers (family Coraciidae) are syndactyl feet, in which the second and third digits are fused.

Lilac-breasted rollers are found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Their range extends from the Red Sea coast of Eritrea through East Africa (including Zanzibar) to southern Africa, where they occur commonly in Namibia (excluding the Namib Desert), Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa. Some populations are non-migratory, while others migrate from northeast Kenya to northwest Somalia to breed from late April to mid-September. Lilac-breasted rollers live in open savannah habitats with scattered trees and shrubs. Less often they frequent riverine vegetation and light forest and may enter sub-desert steppe or open grassland where any elevated perches may be used. In protected areas, these birds frequent the verges of roads, especially during fires, but generally, they try to avoid other human-influenced areas and are not found in urban or rural areas.

Lilac-breasted rollers are active during the day and are usually found alone or in pairs. They perch conspicuously at the tops of trees, poles, or other high vantage points from where they can spot insects, lizards, or other prey moving about on the ground. Lilac-breasted rollers hunt from a perch and scout from a higher vantage point (including from atop large herbivorous mammals) before swooping in and grabbing prey with their beaks. If their prey is small, they will swallow it on the ground. These aggressive birds will carry larger prey back to a perch and beat it until it is dismembered. Outside of protected areas such as national parks, Lilac-breasted rollers may often be seen when farmers burn land for agricultural use. Such brush fires stir up insects and other invertebrates, and birds can be seen swooping in for easy prey. In East Africa, they join other perch hunters like Taita fiscals and Pale flycatchers to make opportunistic use of grassland fires. In South Africa, they are also seen in association with kites, storks, swallows, and bee-eaters when the burning of firebreaks drives small animals onto roads. The call of these acrobatic fliers is a harsh, sawing 'rak rak rak' that is given during flight. They also produce loud raucous calls during flight displays and will perch to sing.

Lilac-breasted rollers are monogamous birds believed to mate for life. Pairs nest solitary and are protective of their nest and one of the pair will fly in a rolling pattern as a territorial display against intruders or distract nest predators. During courtship, a Lilac-breasted roller will fly upwards and then tip forward with the wings closed, before flapping to gain speed towards the ground. While leveling out at the highest speed the bird will roll to the left and right a few times, uttering a harsh, raucous 'kaaa, kaarsh', before swooping up again. The display may end with a harsh chuckling. The breeding season occurs at various times of the year, depending on the location; in Somalia, these birds breed from late April to mid-September.

They build flat nests of grass in a baobab, dead coconut, casuarina, or Terminalia tree. The nest is situated in a hollowed-out tree cavity some 5 meters (16 ft) off the ground, or even on the side of a termite mound. Lilac-breasted rollers do not create the cavities themselves but take over nest spaces that have been previously hollowed out by woodpeckers or kingfishers. Females lay 2-4 eggs per breeding season and both partners will take turns incubating the eggs for 22 to 24 days. Hatchlings are born altricial (helpless), becoming fully feathered after 18-20 days. They will remain dependent on their parents for up to another month and will be ready to breed at the age of 2 years.

20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

18-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is a member of the roller family, Coraciidae, resplendent in a panoply of pastel hues. This African bird is a sight to behold, with its lilac throat and breast, olive crown to mantle, and cheeks of lilac-rufous. The species is further adorned with long, black tail streamers, which juveniles lack. Unofficially, it is considered the national bird of Kenya.

In the field, the lilac-breasted roller is almost unmistakable. Adults boast a lilac throat that deepens into a darker lilac breast, with an olive crown and mantle. The cheeks and ear coverts are a lilac-rufous. Juveniles and immatures can be identified by their lack of tail streamers and a throat and breast of rufous-tawny with broad diffuse buffy-white streaks. The species is not sexually dimorphic, though males may be slightly larger.

The lilac-breasted roller favors open woodland and savanna, typically avoiding treeless expanses. They are often seen perched high, surveying the landscape for prey.

This species is widely distributed across Southern and Eastern Africa and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It is most abundant in Kenya and can be found from sea level to elevations of 2,000 meters or more.

8-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. It is widely distributed in Southern and Eastern Africa, and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It prefers open woodland and savanna, and it is for the most part absent from treeless places. Usually found alone or in pairs, it perches at the tops of trees, poles or other high vantage points from where it can spot insects, amphibians and small birds moving about on the ground.

Nesting takes place in a natural hole in a tree where a clutch of 2–4 eggs are laid, and incubated by both parents, who are extremely aggressive in defence of their nest, taking on raptors and other birds. During the breeding season the male will rise to a fair height (69 to 144 metres), descending in swoops and dives, while uttering harsh, discordant cries. The sexes do not differ in coloration, and juveniles lack the long tail streamers of adults. This species is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya. Alternative names for the lilac-breasted roller include the fork-tailed roller, lilac-throated roller (also used for a subspecies of purple roller) and Mosilikatze's roller.

4-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

18-4-2018 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is a member of the roller family, Coraciidae, resplendent in a panoply of pastel hues. This African bird is a sight to behold, with its lilac throat and breast, olive crown to mantle, and cheeks of lilac-rufous. The species is further adorned with long, black tail streamers, which juveniles lack. Unofficially, it is considered the national bird of Kenya.

In the field, the lilac-breasted roller is almost unmistakable. Adults boast a lilac throat that deepens into a darker lilac breast, with an olive crown and mantle. The cheeks and ear coverts are a lilac-rufous. Juveniles and immatures can be identified by their lack of tail streamers and a throat and breast of rufous-tawny with broad diffuse buffy-white streaks. The species is not sexually dimorphic, though males may be slightly larger.

The lilac-breasted roller favors open woodland and savanna, typically avoiding treeless expanses. They are often seen perched high, surveying the landscape for prey.

This species is widely distributed across Southern and Eastern Africa and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It is most abundant in Kenya and can be found from sea level to elevations of 2,000 meters or more.

Lilac-breasted rollers are usually solitary or found in pairs. They are known for their aggressive defense of their nests against raptors and other birds. During the breeding season, males perform acrobatic flights, swooping and diving while emitting harsh cries.

17-4-2018 CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is a member of the roller family, Coraciidae, resplendent in a panoply of pastel hues. This African bird is a sight to behold, with its lilac throat and breast, olive crown to mantle, and cheeks of lilac-rufous. The species is further adorned with long, black tail streamers, which juveniles lack. Unofficially, it is considered the national bird of Kenya.

In the field, the lilac-breasted roller is almost unmistakable. Adults boast a lilac throat that deepens into a darker lilac breast, with an olive crown and mantle. The cheeks and ear coverts are a lilac-rufous. Juveniles and immatures can be identified by their lack of tail streamers and a throat and breast of rufous-tawny with broad diffuse buffy-white streaks. The species is not sexually dimorphic, though males may be slightly larger.

The lilac-breasted roller favors open woodland and savanna, typically avoiding treeless expanses. They are often seen perched high, surveying the landscape for prey.

This species is widely distributed across Southern and Eastern Africa and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It is most abundant in Kenya and can be found from sea level to elevations of 2,000 meters or more.

Lilac-breasted rollers are usually solitary or found in pairs. They are known for their aggressive defense of their nests against raptors and other birds. During the breeding season, males perform acrobatic flights, swooping and diving while emitting harsh cries.

The call is a harsh, sawing "rak rak rak," typically delivered in flight. The bird often perches to vocalize.

The lilac-breasted roller is likely monogamous, nesting solitarily. Both sexes incubate the clutch of 2–4 eggs. The nest is located in a natural hole in a tree or termite mound, and the young are altricial, becoming fully feathered after 19 days.

Their diet consists of arthropods and small vertebrates, including insects, spiders, scorpions, and small birds. They hunt from perches, swooping down to catch prey on the ground or in the air.

The IUCN lists the lilac-breasted roller as Least Concern, with a stable population size and a large range.

16-4-2018 CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is a member of the roller family, Coraciidae, resplendent in a panoply of pastel hues. This African bird is a sight to behold, with its lilac throat and breast, olive crown to mantle, and cheeks of lilac-rufous. The species is further adorned with long, black tail streamers, which juveniles lack. Unofficially, it is considered the national bird of Kenya.

In the field, the lilac-breasted roller is almost unmistakable. Adults boast a lilac throat that deepens into a darker lilac breast, with an olive crown and mantle. The cheeks and ear coverts are a lilac-rufous. Juveniles and immatures can be identified by their lack of tail streamers and a throat and breast of rufous-tawny with broad diffuse buffy-white streaks. The species is not sexually dimorphic, though males may be slightly larger.

The lilac-breasted roller favors open woodland and savanna, typically avoiding treeless expanses. They are often seen perched high, surveying the landscape for prey.

This species is widely distributed across Southern and Eastern Africa and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It is most abundant in Kenya and can be found from sea level to elevations of 2,000 meters or more.

Lilac-breasted rollers are usually solitary or found in pairs. They are known for their aggressive defense of their nests against raptors and other birds. During the breeding season, males perform acrobatic flights, swooping and diving while emitting harsh cries.

The call is a harsh, sawing "rak rak rak," typically delivered in flight. The bird often perches to vocalize.

The lilac-breasted roller is likely monogamous, nesting solitarily. Both sexes incubate the clutch of 2–4 eggs. The nest is located in a natural hole in a tree or termite mound, and the young are altricial, becoming fully feathered after 19 days.

Their diet consists of arthropods and small vertebrates, including insects, spiders, scorpions, and small birds. They hunt from perches, swooping down to catch prey on the ground or in the air.

The IUCN lists the lilac-breasted roller as Least Concern, with a stable population size and a large range.