Purple Roller

Purple Roller
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Coraciidae
Genus: Coracias
Species: C. naevius
Binomial name
Coracias naevius
(Daudin, 1800)
Synonyms

Coracias naevia

The Purple Roller (Coracias naevius), also called the Rufous-crowned Roller, is found over sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as Namibia and the Transvaal. Compared with other rollers its colours are rather dull and its voice rather harsh and grating. Its preferred habitat is dry thornveld where it spends long periods perched at the top of thorn trees or poles, watching for food items such as insects, spiders, scorpions and small lizards on the ground. It rocks to and fro about its longitudinal axis during display flights, calling raucously all the while.

This species seems to be an opportunist breeder, possibly linked to rains, as its breeding season varies from place to place. It nests in natural hollows in trees or uses old woodpecker holes, usually laying 3 white eggs. The young are fed by both parents.

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2008). Coracias naevia. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 05 February 2011.