multi-colored body; slightly curved bill; long tail (South Africa; 2007-06-30)


Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracius caudatus

Native Range: Africa

Notes: rollers are chunky, medium-sized, brightly-colored birds widely distributed across the Old World, especially in Africa and southeast Asia; no sexual dimorphism is displayed; during the mating season they do rolling courtship flights that give these birds their name; found mainly in wooded habitats and shrubby hillsides; many of these species, including the Lilac-breasted Roller have wonderfully beautiful and complex plumages.


the outer two tail feathers are long and wiry (South Africa; 2007-06-30)
powerful and sometimes roliing flight (South Africa; 2007-06-30)

color of the breast varies with lighting conditions (South Africa; 2007-06-30)
posing for a portrait; note black line thru the eye (South Africa; 2007-06-30)