Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudata

Other Names

  Lilac-throated Roller   Rollier à longs brins, Rollier à gorge lilas   Gabelracke   Carraca Lila   Lilabröstad blåkråka   Vorkstaartscharrelaar   Ghiandaia marina caudata

World: Widely distributed throughout Africa, South of the Congo basin as well as in East Africa

Kenya: Present across most of the country except in the Turkana basin where it is replaced by the Abyssinian Roller

This attractive bird is one of the most commonly seen of the Rollers. An inhabitant of dry open brush and wooded areas, it perches prominently on bushes, trees and (as in this photograph) fence poles. It preys on lizards and invertebrates but is also known to take small birds. Lilac-breasted Rollers are also quite unbothered by people, allowing you to get very close in for a good shot