Lilac-breasted Roller

About

The Lilac-breasted Roller is a medium-sized bird renowned for its strikingly colorful plumage, featuring a lilac breast, turquoise belly, and brilliant blue wings. It is an aerial hunter, often seen perched conspicuously on branches or wires, scanning for prey. Its acrobatic flight displays during courtship are a spectacular sight.

Size & lifespan

Length

35-38 cm (including tail streamers)

Wingspan

50-58 cm

Weight

80-160 g

Lifespan

Up to 10 years in the wild

Diet

Carnivore (primarily insectivore)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adults have a bright lilac breast, a turquoise-blue belly, and a dark blue-black vent. The crown and nape are greenish-blue, fading to a lilac-pink mantle. The back is brown, and the rump is bright blue. The wings are a stunning combination of dark blue, turquoise, and black primaries. The tail is dark blue with two elongated outer tail feathers (streamers) that can add up to 8 cm to its length. A white stripe runs above the eye.

Beak shape

Strong, slightly hooked, and relatively short black beak.

Eye color

Dark brown.

Leg color

Dull yellow to olive-brown.

Distinguishing features

The combination of the lilac breast, turquoise belly, and elongated outer tail feathers are unique. The brilliant blue and black wing pattern is highly visible in flight.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are duller overall, with less vibrant colors. The lilac on the breast is paler and more brownish, and the turquoise on the belly is less intense. The tail streamers are shorter or absent. They have a more mottled appearance.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. Plumage may appear slightly duller when worn before molting.

Sexual dimorphism

Males and females are monomorphic, meaning they look identical in plumage. Males may have slightly longer tail streamers on average, but this is not a reliable field mark.

How to identify

1. 1

   Plumage Coloration

   Look for the unmistakable combination of a bright lilac breast, turquoise belly, and brilliant blue wings. The brown back and greenish-blue crown are also key.

2. 2

   Tail Streamers

   Observe the two elongated outer tail feathers, which are a distinctive feature, especially in adults.

3. 3

   Perching Behavior

   Often seen perched conspicuously on high vantage points like dead trees, telephone wires, or tall bushes, scanning the ground for prey.

4. 4

   Flight Display

   During the breeding season, watch for their spectacular aerial courtship displays, involving rolls and dives, which are unique to rollers.

5. 5

   Call

   Listen for their harsh, raspy 'rak-rak-rak' or 'kraaaak' calls, often given in flight or from a perch.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Savanna, open woodland, shrubland, cultivated areas, and grasslands with scattered trees.

Geographic range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Somalia south to northern South Africa. Also found in the southern Arabian Peninsula.

Elevation range

Typically found from sea level up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).

Preferred environments

Prefers open habitats with scattered tall trees, dead snags, or telephone poles for perching, which they use as vantage points for hunting. Avoids dense forests and true deserts.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal.

Feeding habits

Primarily an insectivore, feeding on a wide variety of invertebrates including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, locusts, and caterpillars. They also take small vertebrates such as lizards, small snakes, frogs, and even small birds. They are 'sit-and-wait' predators, perching high and swooping down to catch prey on the ground or in flight. They often beat larger prey against a branch before swallowing.

Social behavior

Generally solitary or found in pairs, especially during the breeding season. They are not typically gregarious outside of breeding. Can be seen in small family groups after fledging.

Flight pattern

Strong, direct flight with powerful wingbeats. Known for spectacular aerial displays during courtship, involving rapid dives, rolls, and twists, often accompanied by harsh calls.

Migration pattern

Mostly resident throughout much of its range, but some populations in the northern and southern extremes of its distribution undertake local or partial migrations, often in response to rainfall and food availability. For example, southern African populations may move north during the dry season.

Territoriality

Territorial during the breeding season, defending their nesting and foraging areas from conspecifics and other birds.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Varies geographically, typically coinciding with the rainy season. For example, September-December in southern Africa, March-May in East Africa.

Nesting habits

Nests in natural tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or sometimes in holes in earth banks. They do not excavate their own nests. The nest itself is a simple, unlined scrape or a sparse collection of grass and debris within the cavity.

Clutch size

2-4 eggs.

Egg description

Typically 2-4 (sometimes up to 6) glossy white, unmarked eggs.

Incubation period

Approximately 22-24 days.

Fledging period

Around 26-30 days after hatching.

Parental care

Both parents share incubation duties and feed the nestlings. Young are fed a diet of insects and small vertebrates.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Look for prominent perches. Rollers prefer to perch high and conspicuously. Scan the tops of trees, dead snags, and artificial structures like power lines.
2. Visit during the breeding season. While present year-round in many areas, they are most active and vocal during their breeding season, making them easier to locate and observe their courtship flights.
3. Use binoculars. Their vibrant colors are best appreciated with good optics, even if they are relatively close.
4. Be patient. They are 'sit-and-wait' predators, so they may remain still on a perch for extended periods before swooping down for prey.

Similar species

Quick facts

Diet:

Insects, small vertebrates

Habitat:

Savanna, open woodland

Conservation Status:

Least Concern

Distinguishing Feature:

Lilac breast, turquoise belly, long tail streamers

Flight:

Acrobatic, powerful

Fun facts

• The Lilac-breasted Roller is the national bird of Kenya and Botswana.
• Its spectacular aerial displays during courtship are often referred to as 'rolling' flights, which gives the family its common name.
• Despite its vibrant colors, it can be surprisingly camouflaged when perched against certain backgrounds, only revealing its full splendor in flight.
• They are known to be quite fearless and will sometimes perch close to human activity.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Coraciiformes

Family

Coraciidae

Genus

Coracias

Species

Coracias caudatus

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