Lilac Breasted Roller

Description:

A heavy billed, beautifully coloured bird with a green head, lilac throat and breast, a blue belly and even brighter blue wing feathers. Both sexes have the same colouration.

Habitat:

Woodland, Kruger national park.

Notes:

The name ‘roller’ actually comes from the spectacular aerial displays the birds employ during mating season. Lilac-breasted Rollers will dive from a considerable elevation, and then roll in the air while simultaneously letting out a loud call to attract a partner. They are often seen perched singly or in pairs on telephone wires and at the tops of trees, watching for their food of choice - mainly insects such as grasshoppers and large beetles, scorpions, snails and occasionally lizards.