Indian Roller vs Indochinese Roller

Indian Roller

Coracias benghalensis

Medium157 gUrban

The Indian roller is a bulky and broad-winged bird with a large head and short neck and legs. It has a body length of 30–34 cm (12–13 in) with a wingspan of 65–74 cm (26–29 in) and weighs 166–176 g (5.9–6.2 oz). The bare skin around the eyes is dull orange, the legs and feet are yellow-brown. The bill is tinged with brown at the base. The iris is grey-brown. The plumage on the forehead, chin and lores are pinkish buff, the ear coverts are darker red-brown with pale cream or pinkish streaks, while the throat is a dull wine-red with narrow cream streaks. Voice: The Indian roller has a monosyllabic contact call which varies from a short chack to a longer, harsher tschow. Kaarsch calls are made during rolling displays, and increase in frequency and volume as the bird flies towards an intruder. When perched side by side, rollers make staccato chattering.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Koshyk · 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: Indian Roller and Indochinese Roller.