About the Long-tailed Ground Roller
The long-tailed ground roller is a species of bird in the ground roller family Brachypteraciidae, placed in the monotypic genus Uratelornis. Endemic to arid spiny forests near the coast in southwestern Madagascar, this ground roller occurs at extremely low population densities throughout its habitat. This species requires shade and a deep layer of leaves on the ground, and it is absent from parts of the spiny forest lacking these features. It has no recognized subspecies, and its closest relative is the scaly ground roller. The long-tailed ground roller is the only ground roller to definitively display sexual dimorphism. It is a medium-sized bird with a plump silhouette and a long tail. The…
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ID tip
The long-tailed ground roller's silhouette is highly distinctive due to its long tail and plump silhouette. The bird is 34 to 47 centimeters (13 to 19 in) long, although its tail can contribute up to 30 centimeters (12 in) of the length, which makes it the longest tail of any of the ground rollers. This ground roller has short wings and long, pinkish-brown legs. The male has a sandy buff crown and dark brown upperparts with black streaks. Its supercilium is a pale buff color, while the ear-coverts are brown. The eyes are brown, while the short and stout beak is black.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Long-tailed Ground Roller lives
When to see the Long-tailed Ground Roller
Peak activity in November · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Scaly Ground RollerGeobiastes squamigerThe scaly ground roller is a species of bird in a monotypic genus in the near-passerine family Brachypteraciidae.
Rufous-headed Ground RollerAtelornis crossleyiThe sexes are similar in this distinctively-coloured bird about 25 cm (10 in) long.
Short-legged Ground RollerBrachypteracias leptosomusThe short-legged ground roller has a large head and bill, and a puffy throat.
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