European Roller

The European roller is a stocky bird the size of a Eurasian jay, 29–32 cm long with a wingspan of 52–58 cm. It is mainly blue with an orange-brown back and is striking in its strong direct flight, when the brilliant blue contrasts with the blue-black ends of the flight feathers. The call is a harsh, crow-like sound, and it gives a raucous series of calls when alarmed (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is a bird of warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowlands, and it usually nests in tree holes; oak and pine woodlands with open areas are prime breeding habitat, but farms and orchards are also used. One subspecies breeds from Iraq and southern Iran east through Kashmir and southern Kazakhstan to Xinjiang, and some populations migrate to Africa through India, passing through western India from August to November. Eggs hatch after 17–19 days. SoIB 2023 rates it a Moderate conservation priority, a passage migrant and localised summer migrant with a Large range and a current decline of nearly 5% a year (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).