Golden-winged Cacique

A brightly colored bird with various shades of blue on the wings, tails, and belly that are often more prominent in flight. Note the longitudinal white streaks on the throat and breast. Indochinese Roller has a purple-blue breast, a darker olive back, and is generally darker blue. Generally silent, but more vocal in breeding season with harsh calls. Prefers open areas, including agricultural landscapes, sitting on exposed perches including electric wires, occasionally pumping its tail slowly. Practically a resident roller with some movements in the western parts of its range.

Small bird with thin pointed bill. Upperparts grayish brown towards southern end of range and more olive-brown farther north. Underparts are varying levels of yellow depending on subspecies. Distinctive orange-brown rump in all subspecies, some also with and orange-brown tone in lores. Pale eye. Inhabits open habitats, particularly eucalypt forests and other woodlands, where it feeds in small flocks in bushes and branches of trees.

This charming ball of a bird can be difficult to see as it forages quietly on the forest floor within its preferred wet forest habitat. Male has a glossy black body and bristly reddish pompom crest. Female is moss-green with warm cinnamon-brown wings. Both sexes have a bright red ring around the eye. Listen for its song, a series of piercing tremulous whistles.