Lilac Breasted Roller

Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudata is commonly referred to as the Lilac-breasted Roller, belonging to the taxon: Aves; Coraciiformes (hornbills, kingfishers, rollers); Coraciidae (rollers); Coracias caudata. The Lilac-breasted Roller is a medium sized bird with a lilac breast. Coracias caudata inhabits eastern and southern Africa, including parts of Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambabwe, and Malawi. This roller inhabits Acacia savannas with well spaced trees and brushlands. It can …

…small lizards and small birds. The bird will kill its prey by hitting it hard on some projection or on the ground. The roller is quickly attracted to grass fires when in the frenzy of flying insects it will take its prey on the wing. The Lilac-breasted Roller is considered common, its population at its greatest density in Kenya, abundant in Somolia, frequent to common in Ethiopia, and common in the rest of east Africa.