Abyssinian Roller
Coracias abyssinicus
A slim and beautiful roller with very long outer tail feathers. In flight, the spectacular wings are half pale blue and half dark blue. Found in dry savanna and other open country. Usually seen singly or in pairs. Easily separated from Lilac-breasted Roller by the blue throat. Occasionally lacks elongated outer tail feathers, and then very similar to European Roller, but separated by the dark blue rather than black outer wing. The calls are rough rasps.
Identification
The Abyssinian roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a jackdaw at 28–30 cm (11–12 in). It has a warm brown back, with the rest of the plumage mainly blue. Adults have 12 cm (4.7 in) long tail streamers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult. Abyssinian roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blues of the wings contrasting with the brown back and the long tail streamers trailing behind. The call of the Abyssinian roller is a harsh crow-like gak sound, or a screeched aaaargh.
Taxonomy
The phylogenetic relationships among the Coracias species are shown below, from the molecular study by Johansson et al. (2018)
- Scientific name
- Coracias abyssinicus
- Authority
- Hermann, 1783
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Coraciidae
- Genus
- Coracias
Range and habitat
The Abyssinian roller is native to tropical Africa. Its range extends from southern Mauritania and Senegal in the west and to Ethiopia, Somalia and northern Kenya in the east. It also occurs in south-western Saudi Arabia and western Yemen. This is a common bird of warm open country with some trees, and has adapted to farmland and human habitation.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Abyssinian rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the large insects and small rodents on which they feed. They will dash into the smoke of a forest fire for disturbed invertebrates. They are fearless, and will dive and roll at humans and other intruders. The display of this bird is a lapwing-like display, with the twists and turns that give this group its English name. It nests in a scantily lined hole in a tree or building, and lays three to six eggs.
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Bates's Paradise-Flycatcher
Terpsiphone batesi
Both sexes show a dark gray head and underparts with a rufous back, tail, and undertail. Tail is usually short, but males in the southwest part of the range can sport very long central tail feathers. Both sexes have a blue bill and ring around the eye. Found in lowland rainforest and swamp forest. A restless, active bird of middle levels of the forest. Similar to Rufous-vented Paradise-Flycatcher, but has a paler gray head without a crest, and usually has a shorter tail. Can be similar to African Paradise-Flycatcher, but distinguished by the rufous undertail and lack of a crest. Call is a series of tearing “shreet” notes, and song is a fast, bubbling series of “twee” notes.
Velvet-browed Brilliant
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Large, dark hummingbird. Common in tepui highlands. Male is mostly shining green, especially on the throat, breast, and forehead; female is white below with extensive green spotting. Both sexes have conspicuous white spot behind eye. Occurs in a wide variety of habitats including tall forest, edge, and open scrub at middle and high elevations (above 800 m) in tepui region. Feeds on nectar and defends patches of flowers from other hummingbirds. Gives loud, sharp chip note while foraging. No other large, green hummingbird occurs in its limited range.
Brown-banded Antpitta
Grallaria milleri
Dingy-looking antpitta restricted to cloud forest in Colombia’s central Andes. Plumage is mostly brown with whitish throat and belly. Brown breast band is often very indistinct. Similar to Tawny Antpitta, but has a pale belly and inhabits forest. Like many other antpittas, it spends most of the time on the forest floor where it is normally very difficult to see in the gloom. It usually visits a feeder in the Rio Blanco Ecological Reserve near Manizales, where it is much easier to observe. Song is a three-note series, and each note is higher than the last.
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