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European Roller
(Coracias garrulus)
: "Eurasian Roller", "Roller"
German name(s): "Blauracke", "Mandelkrähe"
Size: 29-32 cm; wing span 52-58 cm
Weight: 125-160 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
European Rollers are relatively small rollers.
Apart from some buff to creamy feathers on lores and chin,
their large head, neck and front are all turquoise, with the head
and neck a brighter hue than the chest, belly and vent.
Also the frontal part of the wings is turquoise, with
a blue shoulder patch. The back is rufous to brown,
while the rump is turquoise and the uppertail is dark-grey.
In flight one can see the black-tipped flight feathers
and blue to turquoise upperwing coverts.
The irises are brown.
The long, strong and slightly hooked bill is dark-grey,
with a brownish-grey base. The legs and feet are also
brownish-grey.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See European
Roller at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the European Roller is available
HERE
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There are two races of European Rollers, both of which
are strongly migratory. Both races spend the winters in
sub-Saharan Africa.
Nominate race
"garrulus"
breeds around the western Mediterranean, in parts of south-eastern
Europe, in Asia Minor
and north-western Iran. They migrate to an area of Africa
from Senegal in the West to Cameroon in the East.
Race
"semenowi" breeds in Iraq and the rest of Iran, and eastwards
from there into parts of central Asia, up to North-west China.
This race spends the winters in the area from Congo in the West
to Ethiopia in the East and southwards from there to South
Africa.
Recent tracking research suggests parallel migration, with birds
breeding in the western part of their range also preferring
winter grounds in western Africa, while eastern breeders migrate
to eastern Africa.
In Europe only European Rollers of nominate race
"garrulus"
are found.
They breed around the western Mediterranean,
from the north-western African coastal fringe via southern
Spain and the Cote d'Azure and the major Mediterranean islands
to parts of Italy. From Friuli north-eastwards their breeding
range extends into parts of the Balkans and the Danube river
valley and on into mid-latitude eastern Europe.
European Rollers have a preference for semi-arid environments,
usually relatively open country with scattered trees or shrubs,
with abundant large insects, such as e.g. grasshoppers or
centipedes. They will nest either in tree hollows or in
nest tunnels, e.g. in undercut creek banks or wadis.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "garrulus"
D. Wilczynska reports that European Rollers, nominate race
"garrulus",
were seen on the banks of the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia,
Poland, in the summers of 2014, 2015 and 2017. No photos were taken
at the time; the birds shown here were seen in Georgia, on the
southern fringes of the Caucasus.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by D. Wilczynska.
Race "semenowi"
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Photos |
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Race "garrulus"
This race is also called the "Western European Roller".
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ADULT |
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Near-frontal view of a European Roller
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Near-frontal view of a European Roller calling a warning
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Lateral view of an adult European Roller
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a European Roller
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a European Roller perched on a shrub
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Dorsal view of a European Roller in flight
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Lateral view of a fledgling European Roller looking at the
observer (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Lateral view of a fledgling European Roller
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Adult European Roller, left, luring a fledgling out of the
nest with the promise of food (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Adult European Roller, left, with a fledgling that has just
left the nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a fledgling European Roller that has just
left the nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]
Race "semenowi"
This race is also called the "Eastern European Roller" or the
"Kashmir Roller".
Photos of European Rollers, race "semenowi", were taken
by us in Oman.
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Breeding information |
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Breeding season: May - July |
Eggs: 4 - 5 |
Incubation period: 18 - 19 days |
Fledging age: 28 - 29 days |
Nest building: N/A |
Incubation: Female & male |
Dependent care: Female & male |
During and shortly after egg-laying the female is the main
incubator; later the male takes over as primary incubator.
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Nest |
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Type: Tree hollow, tunnel, crevace |
Material: N/A |
Height above ground: 1 - ? m |
European Rollers "recycle" tree hollow or cliff tunnel nests
dug by other bird species. They do not line their nests, but
will clean out old litter if necessary.
Fledgling European Roller looking out of its nest tunnel
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
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Eggs |
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Size: 36 x 28 mm |
Colour: White |
Shape: Tapered oval |
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.