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14

Dollarbird

(Eurystomus orientalis)
Alternate name(s): "Oriental Dollarbird", "Oriental Roller", "Dollar Roller". "Broad-billed Roller"
Aboriginal name(s): "dawdawgan", "jurgari" [bundjalung]; "didilnggurra" [ngadjon]

Size: 25-29 cm
Weight: 70-125 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Dollarbird at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "pacificus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of an adult Dollarbird; note the characteristic blue throat patch and the black tip of its bill
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, October 2020]

Frontal view of an adult Dollarbird looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Dollarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Dollarbird (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a Dollarbird
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Dollarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, March 2018]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Dollarbird
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Dollarbird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2020]

3 species of insect-eating migratory birds: Sacred Kingfisher, left, Dollarbird, centre, Rainbow Bee-eater, right
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]

Frontal view of a Dollarbird in flight - the turquoise patches look like thin stripes (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Lateral view of a Dollarbird in flight; the colour display is magnificent, showing a variety of blue and turquoise hues (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)

View from underneath of a Dollarbird in flight, with a clear view of its two (old silver) dollar-sized white wing flashes
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of an immature Dollarbird; this bird already has the plumage of an adult, but the bill is only just beginning to turn orange (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, March 2019]

Lateral view of an immature Dollarbird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, March 2019]

Close-up near-frontal view of a juvenile Dollarbird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Dollarbird; note, most prominently, the dark-grey bill
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2021]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Dollarbird
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2018]

Near-lateral view of a fledgling Dollarbird in distress (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, March 2016]

Lateral view of a fledgling Dollarbird in distress (photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, March 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Jan Eggs: 3 - 5 Incubation period: 18 - 20 days Fledging age: 28 - 30 days

Nest building: ? Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow Material: N/A Height above ground: >8? m

Dollarbirds do not line their nests.

Dollarbird sitting in the entrance to its nest hollow (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Roseberry Creek Valley, near Toonumbar NP, northern NSW, November 2017]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 37 x 34 mm Colour: White Shape: Rounded

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Pair

We have noticed over the years that, without exception, all Dollabirds spotted by us were seen close to a creek- or riverbed, even if these were dry at the time. Dollarbirds seem to have a strong preference for life in River Redgums.

This is not seen often by us - a Dollarbird on the ground; in this case on our driveway
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2011]

Food, Diet

Like all other members of the roller family (seen by us in Oman), Dollarbirds feed on large insects, such as e.g. cicadas, that they catch in flight and on small reptiles that they take from the ground.

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

dollar_20180131.m4a pacificus
(NW NSW)
Contact calls? © MD
dollar_pb_20180122.m4a pacificus
(Top End, NT)
Contact calls? © PB
dollar_20180131_2.m4a pacificus
(NW NSW)
Territorial call? © MD
dollar_20210110.m4a pacificus
(NW NSW)
(+ Aust. Magpie):
Alarm calls (goanna)
© MD
dollar_20201006.m4a pacificus
(NW NSW)
2 birds interacting © MD
dollar_20201006_2.m4a pacificus
(NW NSW)
2 birds interacting © MD
dollar_pb_20201020.m4a pacificus
(Top End, NT)
Various © PB

More Dollarbird sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.