Blue-bellied roller

The blue-bellied roller (Coracias cyanogaster) is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across Africa in a narrow belt from Senegal to northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is resident, apart from some local seasonal movements, in mature moist savannah dominated by Isoberlinia trees.

Blue-bellied roller
Pair in The Gambia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Coraciidae
Genus: Coracias
Species:
C. cyanogaster
Binomial name
Coracias cyanogaster
Cuvier, 1816

Description

The blue-bellied roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a jackdaw at 28–30 cm. It has a dark green back, white head, neck and breast, with the rest of the plumage mainly blue. Adults have 6 cm tail streamers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult.

The blue-bellied roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blues of the wings contrasting with the dark back and cream colored head, and the tail streamers trailing behind.

The call of blue-bellied roller is a harsh clicking ga-ga-ga sound.

Fluffing its feathers

Distribution and habitat

This is a common bird of warm open country with some trees. These rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts, or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the grasshoppers and other large insects on which they feed.

Behaviour and ecology

The display of this bird is a lapwing-like display, with the twists and turns that give this species its English name. It nests in a hole in a tree - a tree cavity.

Status

Widespread and common throughout its large range, the blue-bellied roller is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

In captivity

This species can be kept in captivity and is sometimes seen in zoos, open air aviaries, and similar educational facilities.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Coracias cyanogaster". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T22682908A92967763. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682908A92967763.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  • Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers by Fry, Fry and Harris, ISBN 0-7136-8028-8

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