Blue-bellied Roller vs Indochinese Roller

Blue-bellied Roller

Coracias cyanogaster

Medium142 gWoodland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Drew Avery · CC BY 2.0

Indochinese Roller

Coracias affinis

Medium157 gUrban

It is a stocky bird. The crown and vent are blue. The primaries are deep purplish blue with a band of pale blue. The tail is sky blue with a terminal band of Prussian blue and the central feathers are dull green. The neck and throat are purplish lilac with white shaft streaks. The bare patch around the eye is ochre in colour. The three forward toes are united at the base. Rollers have a long and compressed bill with a curved upper edge and a hooked tip. The nostril is long and exposed and there are long rictal bristles at the base of the bill.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Sachin Ranade · Rani, India · CC BY 4.0

Photo: Rejoice Gassah · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blue-bellied Roller and Indochinese Roller.