Blue-bellied Roller

The Blue-bellied Roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a Jackdaw at 28-30 cm. It has a dark green back, white head, neck and breast, with the rest of the plumage mainly blue. Adults have 6cm tail streamers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult.

The Blue-bellied Roller is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Blue-bellied Roller, Coracias cyanogaster is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across Africa in a narrow belt from Senegal to northeast Zaire. It is resident, apart from some local seasonal movements, in mature moist savannah dominated by Isoberlinia trees. Fluffing its feathers The Blue-bellied Roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a Jackdaw at 28-30 cm. More

Blue-bellied Roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blues of the wings contrasting with the dark back and white head, and the tail streamers trailing behind. This is a common bird of warm open country with some trees. These rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the grasshoppers and other large insects on which they feed. More

the Blue-bellied Roller, Coracias cynogaster: the consequences of crowding or concentration" Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 491:1-23. More

The call of Blue-bellied Roller is a harsh clicking ga-ga-ga sound. - horias, uleko, ralfsworld, siggi, CeltickRanger, cicindela, nasokoun, roges, JoseMiguel, jaycee, Chiza, Gert-Paassen, eng55, xTauruSx, anel, smitha ha puntuado esta nota como More

Blue-bellied rollers are named for the blue color on their bodies, as well as the “rolling” behavior noticed in their courtship ritual while flying. More

The blue-bellied roller is a good flyer. It is very territorial and will cry at any bird that flies by. Out of the four different types of roller, the blue-bellied roller is seen as the most colourful. Diet These rollers like to eat grasshoppers, large insects and small lizards. Size The average blue-bellied roller can be up to 35 centimetres (cm) long. The tail can be up to 6 cm. More

Picture of Coracias cyanogaster above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.
Original source: Jim Kuhn
Author: Jim Kuhn
Permission: Some rights reserved
Order : Coraciiformes
Family : Coraciidae
Genus : Coracias
Species : cyanogaster
Authority : Cuvier, 1817