The European Roller, Coracias garrulus, is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East Central Asia and Morocco.
There are two subspecies:
the nominate garrulus, which breeds in north Africa from Morocco east to Tunisia, southwest and south-central Europe and Asia Minor east through northwest Iran to southwest Siberia; and
Semenowi, which breeds in Iraq and Iran (except northwest) east to Kashmir and north to Turkmenistan, south Kazakhstan, and northwest China (west Xinjiang).
The European Roller is a long-distance migrant, wintering in southern Africa in two distinct regions, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia west to Congo and south to South Africa.
It is a bird of warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowland open countryside with patches of oak Quercus forest, mature pine Pinus woodland with heathery clearings, orchards, mixed farmland, river valleys, and plains with scattered thorny or leafy trees. It winters primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains, where it typically nests in tree holes.
Some populations migrate to Africa through India. A collision with an aircraft over the Arabian Sea has been recorded.
The European Roller has a large global population, including an estimated 100,000-220,000 individuals in Europe. However, following a moderate decline during 1970-1990, the species has continued to decline especially in Europe, with overall Europe exceeding 30% in three generations (15 years). In Estonia the 50-100 pairs in 1998 were reduced to no known breeding pairs in 2004; in Latvia and Lithuania, populations have decreased from several thousand pairs in the 1970s to under 30 pairs in 2004. In Russia, it has disappeared from the northern part of its range. However, there is no evidence of any decline in Central Asia.
The decline in the European population has resulted in its Red List status being upgraded from Least Concern to Near Threatened in 2005. Threats include persecution on migration in some Mediterranean countries and hundreds, perhaps thousands, are shot for food in Oman every spring. The use of pesticides reduces food availability, and the species is sensitive to changing farming and forestry practices.
Description
The European Roller is a stocky bird, the size of a Jackdaw at 29-32 cm in length with a 52-58 cm wingspan, but it is mainly blue with a warm brown back
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.
This species is even more striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blue contrasting with black flight feathers.
Males and females look alike, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult.
The display of this bird is a lapwing-like display, with the twists and turns that give this species its English name.
Nesting / Breeding
It nests in an unlined tree or cliff hole, and lays up to six eggs.
Calls / Vocalizations
The call is a harsh crow-like sound. It gives a raucous series of calls when nervous.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org … Additional information and photos added by Avianweb.
Photo Gallery
Please Note: The articles or images on this page are the sole property of the authors or photographers. Please contact them directly concerning any copyright or licensing questions. Thank you.
Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.
We love to hear from our readers. If you have any questions or if you want to get in touch with us, you can find our contact details on our About Us page.
