- Characteristics. Unlike other bird species, both the male and female lilac-breasted roller Coracias caudatus have the same hue, color, and plumage.
- Food and Diet. Lilac rollers primarily eat small insects such as beetles, centipedes, grasshoppers, millipedes, scorpions, snails, spiders, and so on.
- Habitat, Nesting, and Reproduction. These brave lilac-breasted rollers are not fearful of humans; however, they rarely stay near where humans live.
- Migration Patterns. Unlike many bird species, the lilac-breasted roller does not commonly migrate north or south based on the season.
- National Bird of Kenya. This bird is the perfect bird to represent the nation of Kenya. It was chosen to represent the country because of its numerous feather colors.
- Conservations Efforts for the Species. The Coracias caudatus (lilac-breasted roller) is not on an endangered species list. ...
- FAQ’s About the Lilac-Breasted Roller. What Other Names Does the Lilac-breasted Roller Go By? Lilac-breasted roller birds go by more than one name.
What do lilac rollers eat?
Lilac rollers primarily eat small insects such as beetles, centipedes, grasshoppers, millipedes, scorpions, snails, spiders, and so on. They have also been known to eat chameleons, slow lizards, and snakes, too.
What are some fun facts about lilac-breasted rollers?
Fun Facts for Kids 1 Lilac-breasted rollers get their name from their impressive courtship flight. ... 2 Rollers are unique in having syndactyl feet, in which the second and third digits are fused. 3 Lilac-breasted rollers are highly territorial and will defend even small feeding territories. More items...
What predators do lilac-breasted roller have?
Various birds of prey are the main predators of the lilac-breasted roller. Known predators include Wahlberg’s eagle ( Hieraaetus wahlbergi ), the red-necked falcon ( Falco chicquera ), the peregrine ( Falco peregrinus ), and the Bateleur ( Terathopius ecaudatus ). 10. Is the lilac-breasted roller endangered?
What is the habitat of a lilac breasted roller?
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.
See more
Do lilac-breasted roller eat frogs?
The Lilac-Breasted Roller eats insects, lizards, scorpions, snails, frogs, small birds and rodents, such as mice and rats. It perches high in a tree, and swoops on its prey, catching it in its beak. If the prey is small, it will eat the animal on the ground.
Is a lilac-breasted roller a herbivore?
Lilac-breasted rollers are carnivores. They feed on arthropods and small vertebrates, including ground-dwelling insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes, snails, and a variety of small vertebrates, including small birds.
What does the roller bird eat?
Diet. The Lilac Breasted Roller feeds on grasshoppers, beetles, occasionally lizards, crabs, and small amphibians. They take prey from the ground.
What are the predators of a lilac-breasted roller?
The predators of the lilac-breasted roller include the Wahlberg's eagle, the Bateleur, the red-necked falcon, and the peregrine falcon.
What is Kenya's national bird?
The lilac-breasted roller1. Kenya's National Bird. The lilac-breasted roller is Kenya's national bird because of the wide array of colours on its feather coat.
Are lilac breasted rollers endangered?
Least Concern (Population stable)Lilac-breasted roller / Conservation status
How long do lilac breasted rollers live?
about 10 yearsThe lifespan of the lilac breasted roller is estimated to be about 10 years.
What does the blue bellied roller eat?
Blue-bellied rollers mostly eat insects but will also eat small reptiles and oil palm fruit.
What do Indian rollers eat?
The Indian roller occurs widely from West Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Often found perched on roadside trees and wires, it is common in open grassland and scrub forest habitats, and has adapted well to human-modified landscapes. It mainly feeds on insects, especially beetles.
What does a lilac-breasted roller symbolize?
In African culture, the lilac breasted roller is considered the bird of peace. It was often sacrificed by kings declaring peace in their land. It was known as 'the bird of the sun' and helped maintain harmony between ancient communities.
Why are rollers called rollers?
The Coraciiformes family gets its scientific name for Latin coracium, "like a raven", and the English name "roller" from the aerial acrobatics some of these birds perform during courtship or territorial flights.
What is a lilac-breasted roller?
The lilac-breasted roller is a member of the roller family of birds, which is also known as Coraciidae. It is a strong and swift flier. Read on to learn all about it!
How many colors does a lilac breasted roller have?
2. How many colors does the lilac breasted roller have? The lilac-breasted roller could have just as easily been called the “rainbow roller.”. They have around 8 colors; green, white, black, yellow, turquoise, dark blue, reddish brown, and of course lilac.
What color are lilac rollers?
While its upper legs have turquoise feathers, its lower legs and feet are bare, scaly, and yellowish. 2.
How long do lilac-breasted rollers fly?
During a mating flight, a lilac-breasted roller will fly upwards for about ten meters (33 feet) and then swoop down with wings closed.
How long is a lilac roller?
A lilac-breasted roller can be 36 to 38 cm (14.2 to 15 in) long, and that length includes the tail which can be 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long. 5.
Where do blue-breasted rollers live?
lorti. The latter is sometimes called the “blue-breasted roller” or the “lilac-throated roller.”. The two subspecies live in different parts of Africa, and their ranges do not overlap.
Do lilacs fear humans?
“Friendly” may be a stretch, but they do not fear humans. You can get quite close to a lilac-breasted roller without it flying off—which is great when you’re trying to take a picture.
What do lilac-breasted rollers eat?
The diet of the lilac-breasted roller consists of arthropods and small vertebrates, including ground-dwelling insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes, snails, and a variety of small vertebrates, including small birds.
How many eggs do lilac rollers lay?
Typically, lilac-breasted rollers in Somalia will lay three to four eggs per breeding season . In southern Africa, the average clutch size ranges from two to four eggs. Male and female partners will take turns incubating the eggs for 22 to 24 days. Hatchlings are born altricial, becoming fully feathered after 19 days.
What color is the crown of a lilac-throated roller?
The crown to 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.
What is the synonym for lilac-breasted roller?
Synonyms. Coracias caudata Linnaeus, 1766 ( lapsus) The lilac-breasted roller ( Coracias caudatus) is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan 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.
Where are blue-breasted rollers found?
lorti Shelley, 1885, the "lilac-throated roller" or "blue-breasted roller" was originally described as a separate species, and is found from Eritrea to western Somalia and northeastern Kenya.
Who first described the lilac-breasted roller?
Taxonomy and systematics. The lilac-breasted roller was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Coracias caudata.
Is the lilac-breasted roller a concern?
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the lilac-breasted roller is of least concern. The large range and stable population size contribute to this assessment.
What do lilac-breasted rollers eat?
Lilac-breasted rollers feed off arthropods and small invertebrates. Spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes and snails make up the staples of a lilac-breasted roller’s diet. These birds have been known to linger around recently burned farmland in search of insects that have been pushed out of the undergrowth.
Do lilac-breasted rollers fear humans?
Lilac-breasted rollers have a unique hunting technique. This bird is known to be a fearless creature. They do not fear humans in the same way many other birds do. Their fearlessness is also exhibited in one of their hunting techniques.
Is a lilac a dimorphic animal?
The lilac-breasted roller is not dimorphic. Dimorphic animals are those that show clear visible differences between the two sexes. Peacocks, baboons, spiders and even humans are all examples of dimorphic animals. The lilac-breasted roller is not a dimorphic animal.
What do lilac rollers eat?
Food and Diet. Lilac rollers primarily eat small insects such as beetles, centipedes, grasshoppers, millipedes, scorpions, snails, spiders, and so on. They have also been known to eat chameleons, slow lizards, and snakes, too.
What are some interesting facts about lilac-breasted rollers?
There are so many interesting facts about the lilac-breasted roller that get overlooked, but you should know. Here is a compellation of everything that you should know about this colorful bird. This extensive list includes the lilac-breasted roller’s physical characteristics, what it eats, where it lives, and more.
What happens to the lilac-breasted roller?
If the natural habitat of the lilac-breasted roller Coracias caudatus is destroyed, then the birds’ population will dwindle. Thanks to conservation efforts for the species and the national parks of Africa, the population can remain stable. With continued measures, it is believed that the species will thrive for years to come.
How old can a lilac breasted roller live?
They weigh under four ounces and can live to be over ten years old. It might be easy to confuse these rollers with the blue breasted rollers, but you just have to remember that the lilac-breasted rollers have lilac, a light purple color, on their chests, not blue like the other rollers.
What bird has a lilac breast?
Lilac-Breasted Roller Bird: A Stunning Bird with Lilac Plumage on their Breasts. Lilac Breasted Rollers, scientific name Coracias caudatus, are beautiful birds that should be on every birdwatcher’s list. There are so many interesting facts about the lilac-breasted roller that get overlooked, but you should know.
Why is it important to preserve the habitat of lilac-breasted roller Coracias cau
It is important to preserve the bird’s habitat so that the population of lilac-breasted roller Coracias caudatus can remain stable.
What is the scientific name of a lilac-breasted roller bird?
Lilac-breasted roller birds go by more than one name. Its scientific name is Coracias caudatus. The most common name for this bird is a lilac-breasted roller, but it has a few other commonly known names, too. Other names for the lilac-breasted roller include Mosilikatze’s Roller, Lilac-Throated Roller, Kambu, and Fork-Tailed Roller.
What type of animal is a lilac-breasted roller?
The lilac-throated roller belongs to the category of birds. The beautiful lilac-breasted roller is Kenya's national bird and is generally found in southern Africa (specifically northeastern South Africa near open woodlands areas and savanna). The lilac-breasted roller belongs to the Animalia kingdom and the Coraciidae family.
What class of animal does a lilac-breasted roller belong to?
Lilac-breasted rollers belong to the Aves class. The scientific name of the lilac-breasted roller is Coracias caudatus. Lilac-breasted rollers usually prefer living in warm areas of Europe, South Africa, and Australia. They are also known by the name fork-tailed roller.
How many lilac-breasted rollers are there in the world?
There has been no specific study conducted regarding the exact population of lilac-breasted rollers. The lilac-breasted roller is Kenya's national bird and is usually found in southern parts of Africa.
Where does a lilac-breasted roller live?
Lilac-breasted rollers prefer warm areas for living. That is the main reason why they live in woodland and savanna regions. The lilac-breasted roller is very territorial and is also thought to be monogamous. They are one of the most beautiful birds, and you can also see them in numerous national parks.
What is a lilac-breasted roller's habitat?
The lilac-breasted roller, also known as the fork-tailed roller, is the national bird of Kenya, but it originated from South Africa. It can also be found in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the islands of the South Pacific, as well as in Africa.
Who do lilac-breasted rollers live with?
Lilac-breasted rollers choose warmer areas for living. Southern Africa is known for the presence of this beautiful bird and, whilst this bird comes under the category of small birds who generally live in pairs or small groups, the lilac-breasted roller species usually prefer living alone.
How long does a lilac-breasted roller live?
The life span of this super cute bird is about 10 years. This national bird of Kenya doesn't partake in migration, instead, these small African birds do their own nesting and live in warm areas such as woodlands and scattered trees. They rely on preying on small vertebrates to survive.
Overview
The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan 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 conspicuously at the tops of trees, poles or other high vantage points from where it can spot insects, lizards, scorpions, snails, small birds and rodent…
Taxonomy and systematics
The lilac-breasted roller was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Coracias caudata. Linnaeus based his description on "Le Rollier d'Angola" that had been described and illustrated in 1760 by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson. The specific epithet caudatus is Latin meaning "tailed".
Description
In the field, these robust, large-headed birds are often perched alone on a tree in a grassy clearing, and are almost unmistakable with their colourful plumage tones. The lilac throat of the nominate subspecies C. c. caudatus deepens into a darker lilac breast. The crown to 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 r…
Distribution and habitat
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 n…
Behaviour and ecology
Both subspecies are probably monogamous and nest solitary. The sexes are not readily distinguishable, and their displays have not been definitively linked to either male or female. Pairs are protective of their nest and one of the pair will fly in a rolling pattern as a territorial display against intruders or to detract 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 g…
Status
External links
• Other photos at the Mangoverde World Bird Guide