Abyssinian Roller
Coracias abyssinicus
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
- FamilyCoraciidae (Rollers)
- GenusCoracias (Typical Rollers)
- SpeciesCoracias abyssinicus (Abyssinian Roller)
About the Abyssinian Roller
The Abyssinian roller (Coracias abyssinicus), or Senegal roller, is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across tropical Africa in a belt south of the Sahara, known as the Sahel. It is resident in the southern part of its range, but northern breeding populations are short-distance migrants, moving further south after the wet season.
The phylogenetic relationships among the Coracias species are shown below, from the molecular study by Johansson et al. (2018) The Abyssinian roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a jackdaw at 28–30 cm (11–12 in). It has a warm brown back, with the rest of the plumage mainly blue. Adults have 12 cm (4.7 in) long tail streamers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult. Abyssinian roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blues of the wings contrasting with the brown back and the long tail streamers trailing behind. The call of the Abyssinian roller is a harsh crow-like gak sound, or a screeched aaaargh.
The Abyssinian roller is native to tropical Africa. Its range extends from southern Mauritania and Senegal in the west... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Abyssinian Roller in Murchison Falls National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Murchison Falls National Park
European Roller
Coracias garrulus
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Rufous-crowned Roller
Coracias naevius
Broad-billed Roller
Eurystomus glaucurus
Blue-throated Roller
Eurystomus gularis
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephala
Red-throated Bee-eater
Merops bulocki
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
Northern Carmine Bee-eater
Merops nubicus
Malachite Kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Merops hirundineus
Giant Kingfisher
Megaceryle maxima
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Awash National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 2 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 3 | Niokolo-Koba National Park | 🇸🇳 Senegal | |
| 4 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 5 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 6 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 7 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Abyssinian Roller in Murchison Falls National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Abyssinian Roller sighting in Murchison Falls National Park, based on 127 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Abyssinian Roller in Murchison Falls National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Abyssinian Roller in Murchison Falls National Park in our monthly data.