European Roller (Coracias garrulus)
Samburu National Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
The first and last time I saw this bird.
The European roller (Coracias garrulus) is the only member of the roller family breeding in Europe. Its range extends into the Maghreb, West Asia and Central Asia. It winters in southern Africa, primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats but avoids treeless plains. It usually nests in tree holes.
The rollers are medium-sized Old World birds of open woodland habitats. They have brightly colored plumage and a hooked bill. Most species are found south of the Sahara. The genus Coracias contains eight species of sit-and-wait hunters.
The European roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blue contrasting with black flight feathers. Sexes are similar. The display of this bird is like that of a lapwing, with the twists and turns that give this species its English name. The call is a harsh crow-like sound. It gives a raucous series of calls when nervous.
Rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the large insects, small reptiles, rodents and frogs that they eat. The diet of adult rollers is dominated by beetles, whereas nestlings mostly eat Orthoptera, such as grasshoppers and bush crickets.
It was listed as least concern IUCN in 2015, as population development was judged to not meet the criteria for a more urgent rating at this time. – Wikipedia
European Roller (Coracias garrulus)
Samburu National Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
The first and last time I saw this bird.
The European roller (Coracias garrulus) is the only member of the roller family breeding in Europe. Its range extends into the Maghreb, West Asia and Central Asia. It winters in southern Africa, primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats but avoids treeless plains. It usually nests in tree holes.
The rollers are medium-sized Old World birds of open woodland habitats. They have brightly colored plumage and a hooked bill. Most species are found south of the Sahara. The genus Coracias contains eight species of sit-and-wait hunters.
The European roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blue contrasting with black flight feathers. Sexes are similar. The display of this bird is like that of a lapwing, with the twists and turns that give this species its English name. The call is a harsh crow-like sound. It gives a raucous series of calls when nervous.
Rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the large insects, small reptiles, rodents and frogs that they eat. The diet of adult rollers is dominated by beetles, whereas nestlings mostly eat Orthoptera, such as grasshoppers and bush crickets.
It was listed as least concern IUCN in 2015, as population development was judged to not meet the criteria for a more urgent rating at this time. – Wikipedia