Least Concern Birds

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Lilac-breasted Roller has colorful plumage and hunts insects in African savannas.

Scientific name	Coracias caudatus
Swahili name	Churawani wa lilac
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Coraciiformes
Family	Coraciidae
Size	Male: approximately 77-78 g; Female: approximately 77-78 g

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How to identify

Body plumage brightly colored, chest pale lilac; long and conspicuous blue tail feathers; head and back light blue; wings with green and blue markings; bill short and sturdy.

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, open forests, shrublands, and areas near river valleys.

Diet

Carnivorous, mainly preys on insects, small reptiles, and small invertebrates.

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day.

Where it lives

Mainly distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, etc.; commonly seen in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya.

How to spot it

Observe in open areas during early morning or late afternoon, watch for its characteristic rolling flight maneuvers.

Photography tips

Use soft morning light for photography, capture rolling flight actions and vivid plumage colors, use telephoto lens to avoid disturbance.

Threats

Habitat destruction and pesticide use leading to prey decline.

Similar species

European Roller (Coracias garrulus), differs in having a pale lilac chest in the Lilac-breasted Roller versus a blue chest in the European Roller; tail feather shape and color also differ.

📖 how to spot the lilac breasted roller on safari