European Roller
Coracius garrulus
- Habitat: Temperate, steppe and Mediterranean regions
- Range: Europe, Morocco, Central Asia and Middle East
- Natural Diet: Insects and spiders
- Status in the Wild: Least Concern (Common)
Fun Facts
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European rollers migrate long distances from Europe/Asia to sub-saharan Africa
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Their light blue feathers look stunning when they are in flight
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They are well known for their skilled aerial acrobatic displays during which, they twist and turn adeptly in mid-air.
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They use their scent as a deterrent to predators. Chicks are known to regurgitate a foul smelling secretion that predators tend to avoid. Adult birds are also known to use similar techniques to deter predators.
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They have a sharp sense of vision that they use to hunt their prey.
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They are highly insectivorous feeding on 25 to 30 insects a day
Conservation Threats
The major threats are:
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Habitat loss due to urbanization has a detrimental effect on the population numbers of this species
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They are hunted for food, usually when they migrate from Europe/ Asia to Africa
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Their breeding sites have declined due to conversion of their natural habitat to agricultural lands