Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a European Roller (Coracias garrulus)
European Roller

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

The European roller, Coracias garrulus, is a bird of arresting beauty, the only member of its family to grace the European continent with its presence. It is a stocky bird, comparable in size to the Eurasian jay, measuring 29–32 cm in length with a wingspan of 52–58 cm. The plumage is predominantly a vivid blue, with an orange-brown back, making it a sight to behold as it takes to the skies.

Identification Tips

In flight, the European roller is unmistakable. Its brilliant blue plumage contrasts sharply with the black flight feathers. Both sexes are similar in appearance, while juveniles are somewhat less colorful. When perched, its hooked bill and robust body are notable.

Habitat

The European roller favors warm, dry, and open country with scattered trees. It thrives in lowlands but can be found up to 1,000 m in Europe and 2,000 m in Morocco. Ideal breeding habitats include oak and pine woodlands with open areas, as well as farms and orchards.

Distribution

This species has a broad range, extending from northern Africa through southern and east-central Europe, into the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Maghreb. Its distribution once spanned further across Europe, but has seen a decline in the north and west.

Behaviour

The European roller is a solitary bird, often seen perched conspicuously as it scans for prey. It is known for its acrobatic flight during courtship displays, which include a variety of twists and turns.

Song & Calls

The call of the European roller is a harsh, crow-like sound, particularly when the bird feels threatened. It emits a raucous series of calls that can be quite jarring to the listener.

Breeding

Nesting typically occurs in tree holes, with both sexes sharing incubation duties, though the female takes on the majority of this task. The clutch consists of 2 to 6 white eggs, and the young are cared for by both parents. Fledglings leave the nest after about 26 to 27 days.

Similar Species

The European roller is similar in appearance and behavior to the Abyssinian roller, and these two, along with the lilac-breasted roller, have been considered to form subspecies.

Diet and Feeding

The European roller is a sit-and-wait predator, often perching in the open as it looks for large insects, small reptiles, rodents, and frogs. Adult rollers favor beetles, while nestlings consume mostly Orthoptera, such as grasshoppers and bush crickets.

Conservation status

The European roller is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, there have been significant population declines across much of its range, with the European population decreasing by 25 percent between 1990 and 2000. Threats include hunting during migration and habitat loss due to agricultural practices. Conservation efforts include providing nest boxes and restoring foraging habitats.

European Roller Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

European Rollers on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Rollers

A photo of a Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinicus)

Abyssinian Roller

Coracias abyssinicus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.