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DollarbirdAlternate name(s): "Oriental Dollarbird", "Oriental Roller", "Dollar Roller". "Broad-billed Roller" ![]() Size: 25-29 cm Weight: 70-125 g |
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See Dollarbird
at Wikipedia |
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Photos |
Race "pacificus"
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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]
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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]
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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 |
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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]
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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 |
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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]
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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.
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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
.