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Coraciidae - rollers

RollerThere are 12 species in this family. Rollers are crow-sized birds found in warm areas of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the islands of the South Pacific. The two inner toes on their feet are connected, and they have small bills and medium to long tail feathers. Most rollers are some combination of blue and brown in color. They get their name from their display flight. They fly straight up into the air and then fold in their wings and free fall towards the ground; they then roll over and fly up again! They eat insects while they are in flight and often perch on a branch waiting for prey to go by.

World Status Key
Least Concern Least Concern Near Threatened Near Threatened Vulnerable Vulnerable
Endangered Endangered Critically Endangered Critically Endangered
extinct in the wild Extinct in the Wild extinct Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.


US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH
breeds in nh Breeds in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

None   None

Species Around the World

Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North/Central America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH Species

Abyssinian Roller - Coracias abyssinicus Least Concern Africa Asia
Indian Roller - Coracias benghalensis Least Concern Asia
Lilac-breasted Roller - Coracias caudatus Least Concern Africa
Blue-bellied Roller - Coracias cyanogaster Least Concern Africa
European Roller - Coracias garrulus Near Threatened Africa Asia Europe
Rufous-crowned Roller - Coracias naevia Least Concern Africa



  Racket-tailed Roller - Coracias spatulatus Least Concern Africa
Purple-winged Roller - Coracias temminckii Least Concern Asia
Purple Dollarbird - Eurystomus azureus Near Threatened Asia
Broad-billed Roller - Eurystomus glaucurus Least Concern Africa
Blue-throated Roller - Eurystomus gularis Least Concern Africa
Asian Dollarbird - Eurystomus orientalis Least Concern Asia Australia

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Blue-bellied Roller - Coracias cyanogaster profile Photos Least Concern Africa
Blue-bellied rollers are found in western and central Africa, from Senegal eastward to southern Sudan.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

European Roller - Coracias garrulus profile Photos Near Threatened Africa Asia Europe
The European roller is found from northwest Africa, southwest and south-central Europe, east through Asia Minor to northwest Iran and southwest Siberia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Indian Roller - Coracias benghalensis profile Photos Video Least Concern Asia
The Indian roller Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Lilac-breasted Roller - Coracias caudatus profile Photos Least Concern Africa
The lilac-breasted roller is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School