Indian Roller
Coracias benghalensis
The Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) is a common roller found in 14 countries, weighing about 157 g. The Indian roller is a bird of the family Coraciidae.
About the Indian Roller
The Indian roller is a bird of the family Coraciidae. It is 30–34 cm (12–13 in) long with a wingspan of 65–74 cm (26–29 in) and weighs 166–176 g (5.9–6.2 oz). The face and throat are pinkish, the head and back are brown, with blue on the rump and contrasting light and dark blue on the wings and tail. The bright blue markings on the wing are prominent in flight. The sexes are similar in appearance. Two subspecies are recognised.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Vietnam.
When to see it
The Indian Roller can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Indian Roller?
- The Indian roller is a bulky and broad-winged bird with a large head and short neck and legs. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Indian Roller?
- The Indian Roller is a medium sized bird weighing about 157 g.
- Where can you see an Indian Roller?
- The Indian Roller occurs in 14 countries, including India, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Oman.
- What birds look similar to an Indian Roller?
- The Indian Roller is most easily confused with the European Roller, the Lilac-breasted Roller and the Indochinese Roller.
- Is the Indian Roller endangered?
- The Indian Roller is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Indian Roller for real
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