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WoodlandCavity nestMedium · 142 g
ID tip
The blue-bellied roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a jackdaw at 28–30 cm (11–12 in). It has a very dark brown back, buffy or chalky white head, neck and breast, with the rest of the plumage mainly blue. Adults have 6 cm (2.4 in) tail streamers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult. The blue-bellied roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blues of the wings contrasting with the dark back and cream colored head, and the tail streamers trailing behind. The call of blue-bellied roller is a harsh clicking ga-ga-ga sound.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Blue-bellied Roller
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Blue-bellied Roller
The map shades 14 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in India.
About the Blue-bellied Roller
The blue-bellied roller is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across Africa in a narrow belt from Senegal to northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is resident, apart from some local seasonal movements, in mature moist savannah dominated by Isoberlinia trees.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Racket-tailed RollerCoracias spatulatusThe racket-tailed roller is so named for the conspicuous elongated outer feathers on its tail which have long streamers ending in paddle-shaped tips.
Purple-winged RollerCoracias temminckiiThe purple-winged roller is 30–34 cm (12–13 in) in length, similar in size to the Eurasian jay.
Abyssinian RollerCoracias abyssinicusThe Abyssinian roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a jackdaw at 28–30 cm (11–12 in).
Side by side: Blue-bellied Roller vs Indochinese Roller · Blue-bellied Roller vs Purple Roller · Abyssinian Roller vs Blue-bellied Roller
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