European Roller

European Roller

Blue roller, Common roller, Eurasian roller, Roller

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Subclass
Infraclass
Superorder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Coracias garrulus
Population size
200-600 Thou
Life Span
9-10 years
Weight
27-160
1-5.6
goz
g oz 
Length
29-32
11.4-12.6
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
52-58
20.5-22.8
cminch
cm inch 

The European roller (Coracias garrulus ) is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East, Central Asia and Morocco.

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The European roller is found in a wide variety of habitats, avoiding only treeless plains. It winters primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains, where it typically nests in tree holes.

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Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

Ar

Arboreal

Al

Altricial

Am

Ambush predator

Te

Terrestrial

Mo

Monogamy

Ge

Generally solitary

Mi

Migrating

E

starts with

Appearance

European rollers are medium-sized birds known for their aerial acrobatics during courtship or territorial flights. They have brightly colored plumage and a hooked bill. European rollers are striking in their strong direct flight, with the brilliant blue contrasting with black flight feathers. Males and females are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult.

Distribution

Geography

European rollers breed in Europe. Their overall range extends into the Middle East, Central Asia, and Morocco. These birds are long-distance migrants, wintering in Africa south of the Sahara in two distinct regions, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia west to Congo and south to South Africa. Some populations migrate to Africa through India. European rollers are birds of warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowlands. Oak and pine woodlands with open areas are prime breeding habitat, but farms, orchards, and similar areas with mixed vegetation are also used. In Africa, they occur in a wide range of dry, open land with trees. Rollers winter primarily in dry, wooded savanna and bushy plains.

European Roller habitat map

Climate zones

European Roller habitat map
European Roller
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Habits and Lifestyle

European rollers are generally solitary birds. They hunt by day in a sit-and-wait manner. They often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, whilst watching for the potential prey that they eat. The call of these birds is a harsh crow-like sound and they give a raucous series of calls when nervous.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

European rollers are carnivores. Their diet includes large insects, small reptiles, rodents, and even frogs. The nestlings mostly eat grasshoppers and bush crickets.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
May-June
INCUBATION PERIOD
17-19 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
6.5-7 weeks
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
6 eggs

European rollers are monogamous and form pairs. They nest in an unlined tree or cliff hole and lay up to 6 eggs from May to June. The incubation period lasts for 17-19 days and is performed by the female. The chicks are altricial; they hatch naked and blind, but quickly develop. They start to fly after 25 to 30 days but still depend on their parents for about 3 weeks more.

Population

Population threats

The main threats to European rollers include hunting while on migration around the Mediterranean, and large numbers, possibly in the thousands, are killed for food in Oman. Agricultural practices have led to the loss of trees and hedges which provide potential nest sites and perches for hunting, and pesticides have reduced the availability of insect food.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size fo the European roller is around 200,000-600,000 individuals, including 100,000-499,999 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population consists of 75,000-158,000 mature individuals. Overall, currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The European roller is very similar in appearance and behavior to the Abyssinian roller, which appears to be its closest relative.
  • European rollers are famous for the acrobatic displays they perform with the twists and turns and which give them their English name.
  • European rollers cover over 10,000 km when migrating from Europe and Asia to sub-Saharan Africa and in spring they repeat this mammoth journey again.
  • When threatened the European roller chick will vomit a foul-smelling orange liquid onto itself in order to deter a predator. This smell also warns the parents on their return to the nest.
  • European rollers have very sharp eyesight that allows them to spot a prey item even from a height of 8-10 meters (26-33 feet).
  • Adult European rollers eat about 25 insects per day, while juveniles are able to consume up to 21.

References

1. European Roller on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_roller
2. European Roller on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22682860/154424974
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/692623

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