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Indian RollerSize: 26-27 cm |
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Similar species |
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Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Race "benghalensis"
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ADULT |
Close-up view of an Indian Roller in soft evening light,
with a clear view of the spiny feathers covering the
ear coverts, neck and chin
[Batinah region, May 2012]
Indian Roller with its bill open
[Batinah region, May 2012]
Near-frontal view of an Indian Roller on the ground
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
Indian Roller in a palm tree
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, December 2009]
Indian Roller cooling on a humid day with temperatures in
excess of 40 C
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Mar - Jun | Eggs: 3 - 5 | Incubation period: 17 - 19 days | Fledging age: 28 - 32 days |
In southern India the breeding season can begin earlier than stated in the table above.
| Nest building: Male & female | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
| Type: Hollow/cavity | Material: Tree trunk, crevice, pipe | Height above ground: ? |
It is not 100% clear whether the nest shown below is in fact the Indian Roller's. We observed the bird sitting at the entrance and then that there is a nest inside, but it was not in use at the time.
Indian Roller sitting at the entrance of a roof water drain pipe
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, December 2009]
View into the drain pipe, showing a nest that may at one point
have been a
Common Myna nest; the pipe looks closed at the back, so it
should remain dry
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, December 2009]
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Eggs |
| Size: ? | Colour: White | Shape: Oval (near-spherical) |
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Behaviour |
Indian Rollers are territorial birds; they are one of the species that do not hesitate to swoop humans to defend their territories and/or nests.
The fact that a House Crow bothers to hustle a smaller bird such as an Indian Roller (see photo below) indicates that Rollers are probably nest robbers.
House
Crow seen literally swooping an Indian Roller off its perch
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]
Indian Rollers usually sit on relatively low perches, often in trees, on major branches just off the trunk. Also found on road signs, lamps or similarly convenient perches.
Pair of Indian Rollers on a very typical perch
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
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Food, Diet |
Like all other members of the roller family, Indian Rollers feed on large insects that they catch in flight or take from the ground and on small reptiles that they take from the ground.
Crafty Indian Roller coming out of a storm drain pipe where
it had been observed on several previous occasions
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, December 2009]
Here one can see what the Indian Roller was after - a gecko
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, December 2009]
Hold it up high...!
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, December 2009]
Indian Roller drinking from a pond
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
Here, again, an Indian Roller drinking from a pond, but now in
late evening light - note the pronounced difference in colours
compared to the photo above, which was taken in harsh, midday
light on a very hot day
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
