An attractive, sturdy little bird, that is completely unmistakable with its rust-colored little cheeks and darker almost luminous lilac throat.

Meet the Lilac-Breasted Roller

Photo Courtesy of Steve Wilson / CC BY-SA 2.0

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. They are often found perched alone on trees in open areas, unmistakable when seen because of their colorful plumage. A bird with a dark lilac throat and breast, with an olive-colored mantle and rust-colored ear coverts.

Photo Courtesy of Steve Garvie / CC BY-SA 2.0

Females of this species look similar to males, however, males do tend to be slightly larger.

Juveniles and immature adults have the largest alula (small projection on the anterior edge of the wing) dark blue plumage, however, the rest of the alula is more azure.

All will wil will Photo Courtesy of  Steve Slater / CC BY 2.0

Juveniles, immatures, and adults have the largest dark blue alula feather, but the primary coverts and rest of the alula azure.

Photo Courtesy of jurvetson / CC BY 2.0

These birds are found throughout eastern and southern Africa, usually around sea level, then up to 2,000 meters above sea level. The range they live extends all the way from the Red Sea coast of Eritrea through East Africa to southern Africa, in countries such as Nambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa.

Photo Courtesy of Hans Stieglitz / CC BY-SA 3.0

Lilac-breasted rollers prefer living in open savannah habitats with scattered trees and shrubs where there are high roosting possibilities. In protected areas they frequent road verges where small animals are exposed and easily predated. They like eating arthropods and small vertebrates, including ground-dwelling insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes, and snails. They also prey on small birds, lizards, and snakes.

Photo Courtesy of Roger Culos / CC BY-SA 3.0

Thought to be monogamous, Lilac-breasted rollers breed from late April into mid-September. They build a flat nest of grass about 5 meters (16 feet) off the ground, taking over nest spaces previously hollowed out by woodpeckers or kingfishers. They lay around 2 – 4 eggs which they take turns incubating for 22 – 24 days. Hatchlings become fully-fledged after 19 days.

Photo Courtesy of jurvetson / CC BY 2.0

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Lilac-breasted roller is of least concern, having a large range and stable population.