The rollers (family Coraciidae) are a family of birds belonging to the order Coraciiformes, distributed across the warm regions the Old World. These birds occur in woodlands, where they nest in large tree holes and usually perch on exposed branches or wires and hunt on insects on the wing. A short, strong beak and a shiny plumage with blueish and cinnamon hues characterize this family.
The family comprises 13 species in 2 genera. Genus Eurystomus (4 species) comprises forest-dwelling birds with bright-colored beaks, adapted to fly on the wing and occuring in Africa (2 of which endemic to the Afrotropical) and southern Asia east to Australia. Genus Coracias (9 species) includes dark-billed birds which hunt from perches and generally inhabit more open areas, and are distributed across Africa (5 of which endemic to the Afrotropical realm) and Asia (3 of which endemic to the Indomalayan), in addition to one migratory species breeding in Europe.
Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar, 7 Dec 2023
Broad-billed roller
Eurystomus glaucurus
Distributed across open forests of Subsaharan Africa, with partially migratory movements following the rain. Often known as the cinnamon roller after its plumage. I have seen this species in the forest edge of Madagascar.
Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia, 17 Jul 2024
Oriental dollarbird
Eurystomus orientalis
Inhabitant of open woodland from Indochina to the Solomon Islands, with isolated populations in south India and Sri Lanka and a partially migratory range extending north to Japan and Far East Russia and south to Australia. Named after their large, coin-shaped white wing patches. I have seen this species in Singapore, Borneo, Vietnam, Thailand and India.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 5 Jul 2024
Indian roller
Coracias benghalensis
Found in open woods, farmland from Mesopotamia and Persian Gulf all across the Indian Subcontinent, even occurring in urban areas. I have encountered this species in green areas of Dubai and in south India.
Garoda beach near Watamu, Kenya, 11 Feb 2024
Indochinese roller
Coracias affinis
Found in open forest and agricultural areas of Southeast Asia. Bright blue feathers are most noticeable in flight. This species inhabits urban parks of Bangkok in Thailand.
KWSTI Center in Naivasha, Kenya, 3 Feb 2024
Lilac-breasted roller
Coracias caudatus
Distributed along grasslands, savanna and open woods of east and south Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa. This brightly colored species features two long streamers and is the national bird of Kenya, where I have encountered it.
Juvenile in Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 8 Jul 2024
European roller
Coracias garrulus
Found in open dry areas of southern Europe east to Xinjiang in China, migrating to tropical southern Africa in winter. It is the only regularly found species in Europe. This species is a local breeder in Alicante.
