Wildlifeof China
European Roller
Kingfishers, Bee-eaters & Rollers
Photo: Christian Svane · CC BY-SA 2.5
Coracias garrulus
Basic stats
Habitat
Warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowlands but up to about 1,000m; nests in tree holes
Range
Europe, the Maghreb, West and Central Asia; one subspecies breeds from Iraq and southern Iran east through Kashmir and southern Kazakhstan to Xinjiang
Clutch size
2–6 white glossy eggs
Size
29–32cm
Wingspan
52–58cm
The European roller is a stocky bird the size of a Eurasian jay, 29–32cm long with a 52–58cm wingspan. It is mainly blue with an orange-brown back, and striking in its strong direct flight, with brilliant blue contrasting with the blue-black ends of the flight feathers. It is the only member of the roller family breeding in Europe, and its range extends into the Maghreb, West Asia and Central Asia (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is a bird of warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowlands. One subspecies breeds from Iraq and southern Iran east through Kashmir and southern Kazakhstan to Xinjiang, and some populations migrate to Africa through India. It usually nests in tree holes, laying two to six smooth glossy white eggs, and the call is a harsh, crow-like sound (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the European Roller live in?
- Warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowlands but up to about 1,000m; nests in tree holes
- Where is the European Roller found?
- Europe, the Maghreb, West and Central Asia; one subspecies breeds from Iraq and southern Iran east through Kashmir and southern Kazakhstan to Xinjiang
- How many eggs does the European Roller lay?
- 2–6 white glossy eggs
- How big is the European Roller?
- 29–32cm
- What is the wingspan of the European Roller?
- 52–58cm