European Roller
Coracias garrulus
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
- FamilyCoraciidae (Rollers)
- GenusCoracias (Typical Rollers)
- SpeciesCoracias garrulus (European Roller)
About the European Roller
The European roller (Coracias garrulus) is the only member of the roller family Coraciidae breeding in Europe. Its range extends into the Maghreb, West Asia and Central Asia. It winters in southern Africa, primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats, but avoids treeless plains. It usually nests in tree holes.
The European roller was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under its current binomial name Coracias garrulus. The type locality is Sweden. The generic name derives from Greek korakias referring to a type of corvid, perhaps the red-billed chough. The specific epithet garrulus is from Latin and means 'chattering' in reference to the bird's calls. Alternate English names include the blue roller, common roller, Eurasian roller, or simply roller.
A molecular phylogenetic study by Ulf Johansson and collaborators published in 2018 found that the European roller was most closely related to the Abyssinian roller (Coracias abyssinicus). The rollers are medium-sized Old World birds of open woodland habitats. They have brightly coloured plumage... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of European Roller in Murchison Falls National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Murchison Falls National Park
Abyssinian Roller
Coracias abyssinicus
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
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a European Roller in Murchison Falls National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a European Roller sighting in Murchison Falls National Park, based on 24 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see European Roller in Murchison Falls National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for European Roller in Murchison Falls National Park in our monthly data.