European Roller
Coracias garrulus
The European Roller (Coracias garrulus) is a uncommon roller found in 101 countries, weighing about 146 g. The European roller is the only member of the roller family Coraciidae breeding in Europe.
About the European Roller
The European roller is the only member of the roller family Coraciidae breeding in Europe. Its range extends into the Maghreb, West Asia and Central Asia. It winters in southern Africa, primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats, but avoids treeless plains. It usually nests in tree holes.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The European roller is a stocky bird, the size of a Eurasian jay at 29–32 cm (11–13 in) in length with a 52–58 cm (20–23 in) wingspan. It is mainly blue with an orange-brown back. The subspecies C. g. semenowi is slightly paler then the nominate. The European roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blue contrasting with blue-black ends of the flight feathers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult. The European roller is similar in appearance and behaviour to the Abyssinian roller.
What the European Roller sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Netherlands, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Mali, Mayotte, Iceland.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in May. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Watch the European Roller on live cams
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a European Roller?
- The European roller is a stocky bird, the size of a Eurasian jay at 29–32 cm (11–13 in) in length with a 52–58 cm (20–23 in) wingspan. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a European Roller?
- The European Roller is a medium sized bird weighing about 146 g.
- Where can you see a European Roller?
- The European Roller occurs in 101 countries, including France, South Africa, Spain, India and Türkiye.
- What does a European Roller sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the European Roller on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a European Roller?
- The European Roller is most easily confused with the Lilac-breasted Roller, the Indian Roller and the Indochinese Roller.
- Is the European Roller endangered?
- The European Roller is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the European Roller for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.