Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus)

A colorful lilac breasted roller bird perched on a rock with a blurred green background.

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus)

LIFE

The Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus) is one of the most beautiful birds in the world due to its spectacular palette of nearly eight different colors. The bird holds a special place in African culture. It is the unofficial national bird of Kenya and the official national bird of Botswana. In some local traditions, it is known as the "Bird of the Sun" or the "Peace Bird," and its feathers have historically been used in royal wedding ceremonies to symbolize a bond that cannot be broken. The name "Roller" comes from their incredible courtship flight displays. To impress a mate, the male will fly to a great height and then plummet toward the ground, rolling and rocking from side to side while letting out a loud, raucous call. Don't let the delicate colors fool you; this bird is a fierce hunter. Unlike the Bee-eaters in the gallery, which mostly catch flying insects, the Roller often swoops down from its perch to snatch prey from the ground. Their diet includes large insects, lizards, scorpions, snails, and even small birds or rodents. They are known to batter larger prey against a branch to break its bones before swallowing it whole. Lilac-breasted Rollers are secondary cavity nesters. This means they do not dig their own holes or build nests out of sticks. Instead, they find abandoned holes made by woodpeckers or kingfishers in dead trees and claim them as their own. They are highly territorial and will aggressively defend these nesting sites against much larger birds. Much like the Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Rollers are frequently seen at the edges of bushfires. They use the heat and smoke to their advantage, perched on a high branch and waiting for terrified insects and lizards to flee the flames, making for an easy, pre-cooked meal.

Artist description

The Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus) is one of the most beautiful birds in the world due to its spectacular palette of nearly eight different colors. The bird holds a special place in African culture. It is the unofficial national bird of Kenya and the official national bird of Botswana. In some local traditions, it is known as the "Bird of the Sun" or the "Peace Bird," and its feathers have historically been used in royal wedding ceremonies to symbolize a bond that cannot be broken. The name "Roller" comes from their incredible courtship flight displays. To impress a mate, the male will fly to a great height and then plummet toward the ground, rolling and rocking from side to side while letting out a loud, raucous call. Don't let the delicate colors fool you; this bird is a fierce hunter. Unlike the Bee-eaters in the gallery, which mostly catch flying insects, the Roller often swoops down from its perch to snatch prey from the ground. Their diet includes large insects, lizards, scorpions, snails, and even small birds or rodents. They are known to batter larger prey against a branch to break its bones before swallowing it whole. Lilac-breasted Rollers are secondary cavity nesters. This means they do not dig their own holes or build nests out of sticks. Instead, they find abandoned holes made by woodpeckers or kingfishers in dead trees and claim them as their own. They are highly territorial and will aggressively defend these nesting sites against much larger birds. Much like the Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Rollers are frequently seen at the edges of bushfires. They use the heat and smoke to their advantage, perched on a high branch and waiting for terrified insects and lizards to flee the flames, making for an easy, pre-cooked meal.