Roller
The European Roller is the only member of the Roller family to breed in Europe. It is a stocky bird, the size of a Jackdaw, and it is mainly blue with an orange-brown back. It is striking in its strong direct flight with the brilliant blue contrasting with black flight feathers. Sexes are similar but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult.
The European Roller often perches prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires whilst watching for the large insects, small reptiles, rodents and frogs that they eat. They have a Lapwing-like display with the twisting and turning display flight giving the bird its English name.
The European Roller breeds in north Africa from Morocco east to Tunisia, in south west and south central Europe and in Asia Minor east through north west Iran to south west Siberia. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering in southern Africa in two distinct regions, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia west to Congo and south to South Africa.
The European Roller can be found in warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowland open countryside with patches of oak forest, mature pine woodland with heathery clearings, orchards, mixed farmland, river valleys and plains with scattered thorny or leafy trees. It winters primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains.
The European Roller has a large global population of an estimated 100,000 to 220,000 individuals in Europe. However, following a moderate decline during 1970 to 1990, the species has continued to decline especially in Europe with a decrease in the overall European population exceeding 30% in 15 years. Threats include persecution on migration in some Mediterranean countries, the use of pesticides which reduces food availability and sensitivity to changing farming and forestry practices.
Date: 28th April 2012
Location: Santa Marta de Magasca to Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain
The European Roller often perches prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires whilst watching for the large insects, small reptiles, rodents and frogs that they eat. They have a Lapwing-like display with the twisting and turning display flight giving the bird its English name.
The European Roller breeds in north Africa from Morocco east to Tunisia, in south west and south central Europe and in Asia Minor east through north west Iran to south west Siberia. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering in southern Africa in two distinct regions, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia west to Congo and south to South Africa.
The European Roller can be found in warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowland open countryside with patches of oak forest, mature pine woodland with heathery clearings, orchards, mixed farmland, river valleys and plains with scattered thorny or leafy trees. It winters primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains.
The European Roller has a large global population of an estimated 100,000 to 220,000 individuals in Europe. However, following a moderate decline during 1970 to 1990, the species has continued to decline especially in Europe with a decrease in the overall European population exceeding 30% in 15 years. Threats include persecution on migration in some Mediterranean countries, the use of pesticides which reduces food availability and sensitivity to changing farming and forestry practices.
Date: 28th April 2012
Location: Santa Marta de Magasca to Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain
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Also in: South and west Spain - April and May 2012
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